Gender Equality India Project #22035

Training 130 women youth health leaders in Gujarat

by Ahmedabad Women's Action Group

Training 130 women youth health leaders in Gujarat

Project Report | Sep 14, 2017
WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND SANITATION

By Tasneem Sara | Project Leader

Hello Friends,

AWAG is pleased to share the work update for the period June, July, August 2017 on AWARENESS OF WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND SANITATION IN PATAN, GUJARAT.

AWARENESS RAISING MEETINGS

Meetings were held regularly across the following villages to spread awareness of menstrual hygiene among women.

Date Village No. of Participants

09/06/2017 Borasan 38

12/06/2017 Chanduman 35

14/06/2017 Bhaddada 40

17/06/2017 Saanti 38

20/06/2017 Dabhadi 38

18/07/2017 Bimiyana 38

20/07/2017 Mithi Vavdi 39

22/07/2017 Matpur 32

24/08/2017 Sakha 40

26/08/2017 Norta Talpad 39

26/08/2017 Babasana 45

TOTAL 11 422

A total of 11 awareness raising meetings were conducted across 11 villages covering 422 women

The content of these meetings focused on ......

Process of menstruation
Problems related to menstruation
Hygienic practices to adopt so as to prevent the occurrence of reproductive ailments
Benefits of using sanitary napkins
Causes and symptoms of Anemia and need to take iron supplements
Overcoming superstitious beliefs that adversely affect women’s health and wellbeing

WORK IMPACT

The resultant effects of the interactions and learning derived by the participating women through the meetings has led to the following impact:

Women are gaining exposure and knowledge about the process of menstruation and are slowly and steadily overcoming their superstitious beliefs attached to it.

A total of 9 women saw sanitary napkins for the very first time in their lives.
Around 25% women have overcome their inhibitions and have started using sanitary napkins for menstrual protection and hygiene.
A number of them have also started adopting the practice of wearing panties that was earlier not much prevalent.
With the growing awareness women are also reaching out for medical help for irregular/heavy menstruation and white discharge.

RESPONSES OF THE VILLAGE WOMEN

We have seen sanitary napkins for the first time in our lives. On learning about its benefits, we will insist on maintaining hygiene and will ensure that our daughters use these for menstrual protection.
Initially we use to abstain from cooking since we thought that menstruation was dirty and impure. But now, there is an understanding that it is a natural process.
These meetings should be held more often so as to enlighten women on menstrual health and hygiene.

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Jun 27, 2017
WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND SANITATION

By Tasneem Sara | Project Leader

WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND SANITATION PROJECT IN PATAN, GUJARAT (March to May 2017)

Meetings were held regularly across various villages to spread awareness of menstrual health and hygiene among local women.

No. of Meetings held:15

Villages covered:15

Total Participants:597

The meetings rallied around discussing the following points as well as concerns put forth by the participating women.

How does menstruation occur?
Why is there pain during menstruation?
Is it normal to menstruate every 15 days?
Is the passage for urination and menstruation the same?
What practices do we adopt to maintain hygiene and prevent the occurrence of reproductive ailments?
Is it OK to cook food and prepare pickles during menses?
What are the benefits of using sanitary napkins?
What are the reasons for white discharge?
How is the sex of the foetus determined?
What are the ill effects of using Copper-T as a contraceptive device?

The participating women were pleased to have learnt new topics regarding their bodies.

Outcomes:

Women belonging to conservative communities were initially apprehensive to attend the meetings, but once they gathered for it, there was no looking back.
The participants were seeing the uterus model for the first time in their lives. They were fascinated with the model and learnt about the process of menstruation.
Women above 25 years were not habituated to wearing panties, but after the meeting they realized the need for it and have started adopting the practice of doing so.
Likewise, adolescents and young women are embracing the idea of using sanitary napkins.
Superstitious beliefs are deeply steeped among the women communities. After much effort some women have overcome such beliefs.

Field Visit:

Mr Aishik Saha – Field Volunteer from GlobalGiving paid a two-day visit to AWAG and undertook a field visit of the said project. While his response was encouraging, we have also taken due heed of his valuable suggestions and feedback.

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Jun 27, 2017
WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND SANITATION

By Tasneem Sara | Project Leader

WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND SANITATION PROJECT IN PATAN, GUJARAT

(March to May 2017)

Meetings were held regularly across various villages to spread awareness of menstrual health and hygiene among local women.

No. of Meetings held:15

Villages covered:15

Total Participants:597

The meetings rallied around discussing the following points as well as concerns put forth by the participating women.

How does menstruation occur?

Why is there pain during menstruation?
Is it normal to menstruate every 15 days?
Is the passage for urination and menstruation the same?
What practices do we adopt to maintain hygiene and prevent the occurrence of reproductive ailments?
Is it OK to cook food and prepare pickles during menses?
What are the benefits of using sanitary napkins?
What are the reasons for white discharge?
How is the sex of the foetus determined?
What are the ill effects of using Copper-T as a contraceptive device?

The participating women were pleased to have learnt new topics regarding their bodies.

Outcomes:

Women belonging to conservative communities were initially apprehensive to attend the meetings, but once they gathered for it, there was no looking back.
The participants were seeing the uterus model for the first time in their lives. They were fascinated with the model and learnt about the process of menstruation.
Women above 25 years were not habituated to wearing panties, but after the meeting they realized the need for it and have started adopting the practice of doing so.
Likewise, adolescents and young women are embracing the idea of using sanitary napkins.
Superstitious beliefs are deeply steeped among the women communities. After much effort some women have overcome such beliefs.

Field Visit:

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