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 | Mar 29, 2017
December 2016 - February 2017

By Kavita Dattani | Communications and Fundraising Officer

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

(December 2016 to February 2017)

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

Date - Village - Place - No. of Participants

02/12/2016 - Khanpur - Community Leader's House - 28

05/12/2016 - Fulesana - Ramnagar - 27

07/12/2016 - Vadali Village - Temple - 49

09/12/2016 - Manpur - ASHA Worker's House - 38

14/12/2016 Kharivavadi - Darbar Locality - 55

17/01/2017 Matarwadi - Labourers' locality - 29

19/01/2017 Norta - ASHA Worker's House - 36

21/01/2017 Ramnagar - Community Leader's House - 43

25/01/2017 Gadosan - Champaben's House - 39

28/01/2017 Bhalgam - Shivnagar Area - 42

14/02/2017 Badipur - Shivnagar Area Labourers' area - 36

17/02/2017 Sabosan Anganwadi Caretaker's House 41

21/02/2017 Hamidpura - Khan Sarovar - 39

23/02/2017 Sardarpura-Norta - Community Leader's House - 40

In total 14 meetings were conducted covering 542 participants

Impact of the meetings conducted across all the above villages is enumerated as follows:

Women who gained exposure to sanitary napkins for the first time ever: 140
Women who started using sanitary napkins for menstrual protection: 125
Women who started maintaining reproductive hygiene and bathing daily : 74
Women who broke free from superstitious beliefs related to menstruation: 80
Women who started wearing panties: 68
Women who broke free from consuming chewing tobacco(gutka):35
Women who started taking treatment for irregular menstruation, white discharge and urinary tract itching and other reproductive ailments: 25
Women who befriended their daughters to help them cope with their growth issues: 14
Women who addressed their problem of prolapsed uterus - 8
Women who promised that their girls would give up chewing tobacco gutka:5
Women from the conservative community who gathered the courage to allow their daughters to gain exposure to the world beyond their homes: 4
Women who reported cancer of the tongue due to consumption of gutka (chewing tobacco) : 3
Women who voiced that they suffered from breast cancer:1

Voices from the field...

"Earlier we believed that the outlet for urination and menstruation was the same. But the learning that was provided with the help of the uterus model clarified our perceptions."- Leelaben, Village Khanpur.
"We always thought menstruation to be something bad and impure, but now we realize that it is a vital process for bearing children." - Ramilaben, Village Khanpur.
"I used to abstain from cooking food during menses but now I feel that one can continue with their routine chores even during menstruation. Moreover, I never used an underwear or any material for menstrual protection, but henceforth I will do so." -Geetaben, Village Khanpur.
"I never paid attention to my health and personal hygiene. But now I will treat the back pain that I have been suffering from due to excessive white discharge." - Chayaben, Village Fulesana.
"I have three daughters and I always held myself responsible for not having borne sons. But now I am relieved that bearing daughters is no fault of women." - Dhwaniben, Village Fulesana.
"At first we were embarrassed to participate in this meeting, but after attending the meeting our confidence has increased."- Kanchanben, Village Vadali.
"In our community, on attaining puberty, girls were married off at an extremely young age. But now we realize the ills of doing so and are reconsidering this practice."- Leelaben, Village Vadali.
"My daughter-in-law seems to have a problem in conceiving as a result of which we indulged in a number of fasts and religious beliefs; but all in vain. Thus, now I will resort to medical treatment for her." - Leelaben, Village Manpur.
"We earlier believed that inserting Copper-T was harmful. But we have now learnt that it is a device that helps in spacing between children."- Champaben, Village Manpur.
"We considered curd, milk to be detrimental for the foetus; but have now learnt about its nutritional importance."- Women from Village Manpur.
"We have seen sanitary napkins for the first time. We will insist on maintaining hygiene and will ensure that our daughters use these for menstrual protection." Hansaben,Village Khari Vavdi.
"I menstruate every 15 days and experience giddiness. After having attended the training I understand the urgency to take medical treatment for my problem." -Kailashben, Village Khari Vavdi.
"My daughter is 16 years old but I have never bothered to ask her whether she gets her periods on time. Now I've realized the importance of paying attention to her needs." - Kanchanben, Village Khari Vavdi.
"Initially we were sceptical to attend these meetings since such meetings have never been held in our village. But we are glad to have attained the meeting since we learnt a lot of aspects concerning our bodies and menstruation."-Women participants from Village Matarwadi.
"We learnt how to keep track of the schedule of our period so as to check its regularity." - Leelaben, Village Matarwadi.
"I have been suffering from white discharge and prolapsed uterus, and am certainly going to take medical treatment for it soon." - Geetaben, Village Norta.
"We will put in efforts to break barriers and will start interacting with our daughters in this matter so as to create a mutual bonding."- Women from Village Ramnagar.
"We experience a number of problems such as irregular menstruation, prolonged menstruation, infertility and body heaviness before menstruation. The meeting helped us how to cope with these situations."- Women from Village Gadosan.
"I have been experiencing a problem regarding white discharge and pledge to maintain proper hygiene, henceforth." - Leelaben, Village Bhalgam.
"The process of conception and gender-determination of the foetus was highly enlightening." - Kalpanaben, Village Bhalgam.
"We use cloth rags/pieces for menstrual protection and have never worn panties nor have we used sanitary napkins. Our daughters use sanitary napkins." - Women from Village Badipur.
"The village people criticize women for attending meetings. But we feel that the learning gained is worth the taunts that we have to bear with."- Hansaben, Village Badipur.
"We used to consider menstruation to be a bad occurrence; but now we realize how essential it is." - Women from Village Sabosan.
"Such meetings are very enlightening and must be conducted regularly. We will ensure that more and more women attend these meetings." - ASHA Worker-Bhawnaben, Village Sabosan.
Women who consume chewing tobacco were explained on the ill effects of doing so and were urged to give up their vice.
"With the help of the 'apron' illustrating the menstrual process, our concerns regarding irregular / heavy menstruation, fear about using Copper-T device and white discharge were clarified." Women from Village Hamidpura.
"We feel very embarrassed to share our menstrual problems with anybody. But now we understand that it is not something to be ashamed about." Neelaben, Village Hamidpura.
"Earlier when I used to get my periods every 15 days, I thought it was a good sign of getting rid of the unwanted waste; but now I have realized that the problem needs to be addressed." Kalpanaben, Village Hamidpura.
"We will share our learning with our daughters back home. The knowledge will help them cope with their myths and inhibitions surrounding menstruation and reproduction." Women from village Sardarpura
"I now realize the urgency of getting my uterine pain treated soon." Champaben, village Hamidpura.

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Dec 28, 2016
October and November 2016

By Kavita Dattani | Research and Fundraising Officer

Meetings were held regularly across various villages to spread awareness of menstrual hygiene among adolescents and women. Details of these meetings are as follows:

10/10/2016:Bismillaganj covering 39 adolescents

This village has a large section of people from the Thakor community. The village school is functional upto Std 7. With the examinations going on, it was not possible to conduct meetings with the adolescent girls at the school. However, meetings with adolescents were conducted in the village; the responses of a few are as follows:

Lalita- 14 years

I gave up by studies after completing Std 6. I have started getting my periods but do not know anything related to it. I feel shy about it. But after hearing your session, I am going to share the matter with my mother.

Champa- 16 years

I experience severe stomach pain, fever, nervousness and also feel like crying prior to my periods. After this meeting my nervousness has reduced because I have gained information regarding menstrual pain and its related problems and have learnt about the intake of Metacin in case of severe pain/fever.

Komal- 15 years

I have started getting my periods and quietly wash and dry the used cloth in the fields and ensure that nobody sees it because I feel very shy about it. But now onwards I will dry it in the sun.

Some girls are familiar with sanitary napkins, but since they are involved with labour work they do not generally purchase it for use.

Manjula - 18 years

I used to always wonder as to how the process of menstruation occurs and the effects of it not taking place. But now I have gained understanding about it.

It is observed that the level of education is low in this village because girls are not permitted to study beyond Std 6 or 7.
An understanding was brought about with the use of posters and simulation games.
Initially, the participating girls were shy to speak, but through group discussions and activities the group started opening up.

20/10/2016: Motipipli covering 28 adolescents

This village houses people from various communities with a majority of which are from the Ayar community. Here the custom of saataa and child marriage is widespread. The meeting was organized at the Asha Worker's house. Girls from the darbar community do not generally step out of their homes. Infact, girls amongst all communities were hesitant to step out of their surroundings to attend meetings, but after much explanation they were responsive.

Dhani: We get married at a young age and not at all comfortable about it. We are nervous and afraid about going to our husband's home.

Leela - 14 years So far I used to use any cloth that I laid my hands on for menstrual protection. But henceforth I will use cotton cloth only.

Dhani: Now onwards I will not consume any medicines for delaying my cycle without consulting the doctor. Nayana: At first I used to feel embarrassed and helpless if I got my periods during school hours. But now I have learnt to keep a pad handy in my school bag to avoid the awkward situation.

Maya: Earlier I would confide in my friend when faced with a problem. But henceforth, I will open up my heart with my mother.

Other adolescents: We learnt about the uterus and enjoyed learning new things related to it. It is the first time that a meeting covering menstrual health has been held.

Women's responses: This topic features in our Std 7 course, but it is not taught to us; may be due to fear of students' parents.

Adolescent's responses: Once, our teacher announced that we would be learning about the reproductive system. Not a single girl attended school on that day.

Komal: Initially we used to get scared to go out. But now we go all the way to Radhanpur for studies as well as for sewing classes.

Young girls: When girls of our age commit any mistake, parents make the girls discontinue their studies, and as soon as they attain menarche they get the girls married off.

21/10/2016: Ramnagar covering 32 adolescents Meetings were organized with the Rabari and Thakor communities.

The practice of Saataa marriage is given much importance as a result of which marriages take place at a young age.

Neetaben: We used to feel very embarrassed and nervous often. But today we have learnt a lot of new things. Now that we have your number we can contact you when needed.

Champaben: Meetings with girls are never held at the Anganwadi. Adolescent group has been formed. If meetings are held regularly at the Anganwadi in our village, then we will get to learn a lot.

Adolescent's responses: When meetings were held in our village, young girls used to leave the meetings due to extreme embarrassment. We are young and have been married at a young age. When we have to go to our inlaws place on certain occasions, we used to be apprehensive of getting pregnant; but now we are well informed about what precautions to take.

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

Village Kunsela

Number of girls who broke free from their superstitious beliefs related to menstruation: 10
Number of girls who started using sanitary napkins: 14
Number of girls who started maintaining hygiene : 16
Number of girls who realized that menstruation was not something dirty but a natural, healthy process: 10

Most families in this village belong to the Chowdhary community wherein girls are married off at a young age as per the saataa practice. By virtue of these meetings, the participants grasped the bitter realities related to saataa practice.

Adolescent's responses: Earlier we used to feel embarrassed to share our menstrual problems with our mother but now we have overcome our inhibitions.

Village Delana

Number of girls who realized that there is no shame in discussing issues related to menstruation with their mothers: 19
Number of girls who started using sanitary napkins: 12
Number of girls who started consuming iron supplements: 12
Number of girls who gained an understanding about the menstrual process: 8
Number of girls who brought about a change in mindset in their maternal homes: 5

Adolescent's responses: Rekha remarked that she was from the Ayar community where girls were married off at a young age. I am not satisfied with my match, but still I am compelled to keep up with the saataa marriage. The other adolescent girls joined in and affirmed that they will ensure that their children break free from such practices. Some also remarked that they had seen sanitary pads but had not used them so far. Some even confessed that they were initially nervous when they started their menstruation as they had no clue about it. Most of them realized the importance of intake of a healthy and nutritious diet.

Village Santhali

Number of girls who started sharing matters related to menstruation with their mothers: 29
Number of girls who started using sanitary napkins: 10
Number of girls who started wearing panties: 05
Number of girls who started maintaining hygiene : 08

Through the given project, more and more adolescent girls are gaining understanding about the importance of menstrual hygiene and are adopting suitable practices for better health.

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Oct 4, 2016
July and August

By Tasneem | Communications Officer

Meetings were held regularly across various villages to spread awareness of menstrual hygiene among adolescents and women. Information on village sessions were as follows:

Viilage Maghapura:

When we went to the village, the Anganwadi Worker had gone for a meeting. The caretaker ben was busy and the leader that has now come of age, was out of town.

Thereafter the meeting was organized at the Choudhari Vaas. Since there is not much unity amongst the participating communities, women from other communities were not present.

Nobody in the village was willing to become a leader. During the meeting, a number of women had discussed many issues. Around 2 to 3 college going girls use pads.

Saataa in the Choudhari community is high, as a result of which 2 women who are faced with problems in their marital home are not willing to sever ties. With this the life of 4 people is ruined, but with AWAG's interventions of building understanding, they have started attending meetings.

After the meeting, 14 women expressed their readiness to use pads. Four women complained of white discharge and said that they were ready to take medication for it. 1 woman who complained of vaginal infection with itching was advised to take immediate treatment.

Women were talking about the earlier meetings conducted by AWAG years ago and expressed that they would like such meetings to continue.

Village Alhabad

The women from Choudhari community in this village were not ready to attend the meeting. Thus, meetings were conducted with women from Bharwad, Thakor and Rawal Vaas.

Women responded by saying that they have heard about AWAG for the first time today. Meetings are held in our village but nobody comes into our vaas so far. Today we have learnt a lot.

Primary counselling of 3 women was undertaken since they faced problems in their marital homes. They were also advised to visit the organization's office.

Ramiben Bharwad said that earlier they would not bathe daily during their periods, but now they will do so daily.

Gitaben Rawal expressed that she has been experiencing white discharge and irregular menstruation but chose to ignore it. But now she is ready to treat the problem and will also ensure that the village girls start using sanitary napkins. 14 women from this village have started using sanitary napkins.

Village Subapura

Both the anganwadi workers of this village lent their support in the meeting that was held at the anganwadi centre.

The adolescent girls have started taking iron supplements. Similarly 20 women have started using sanitary napkins.

Anganwadi worker said that henceforth we will organize a meeting with the adolescents of the village to share the information conveyed here. So far we used to conduct meetings where we would serve snacks and send off the participants since we were not aware as to what to discuss.

Women said that many women in the village suffer from reproductive tract diseases but feel embarrassed and hesitant to reveal it. As a result even minor ailments often take a major turn and prove fatal. Through these meetings, women set aside their inhibitions and openly discussed the matter for all to learn.

A number of women also remarked that they had never seen sanitary napkins earlier, but are now keen to use it. Similarly, information about menstruation and uterine problems was absolutely new for them.

Village Jawaharnagar

Not a single woman in this village had seen sanitary napkins, but 12 of them have started using them. The participants were happy to learn about the reproductive system and need to maintain hygiene especially during menstruation. They said that they were totally ignorant about these matters but have now got an opportunity to learn about them. Those women who were not wearing underwear have started doing so.

A woman who had cancer passed away. So now women said that they have realized the importance of timely handling of health problems.

Responses: Hinaben, Roshana, Sugana, Kailash, Aarti, Meena, Sangita, Mamta

For the first time in our village, we got to learn many things from Chetnaben. Through the meeting we learnt about maintain hygiene during menses, use of sanitary napkins to prevent the occurrence of diseases in the reproductive tract. We also learnt about cancer and its related problems.

Women were also given understanding on handling violence inflicted on them by male members. Information on contraceptive pills and family planning methods was also shared with the participants.

With this, the women expressed that such meetings should be held regularly.

Village Kalyanpura

Most families in this village belong to the Thakore community. The extent of education is low because they do not believe in educating girls.

The girls present said that they are very keen to study but their parents do not allow them to do so. Most of the girls are simply sitting idle all day long but their parents are not ready to send them to Radhanpur even.

Though they had never seen sanitary napkins before, 15 of them have started using them.

Women said that this is the first meeting that has been conducted by AWAG in their village. 14 years ago they used to come and take embroidery work. Since education is less in our village, such meetings should be held regularly.

Viilage Javatri

Women said that due to lack of knowledge, a lot of women are facing problems related to white discharge, weakness etc.

It seems that in case of one woman is now faced with a problem of prolapsed uterus in a serious form since she did not pay attention to it in the initial stages.

A total of 20 women have started using sanitary napkins.

The Asha Worker said that this village being large in area, she is putting in efforts to ensure that maximum girls/women start using sanitary napkins.

Leelaben said that she constantly experiences pain in the uterine area and will now surely address the problem.

No. of adolescent girls/women who have started consuming Iron supplements:

Memdavad : 18

Chaniyaghar: 15

Masali : 12

Karsangadh: 5

After the meeting, a total of 12 women with problems of irregular periods, white discharge and uterine pain got relief through medication procured from government health centres.

Village Memdavad

Since there is not much unity among various castes, all the women do not come to a common place for the meeting. Thus, meetings were held in two separate locations in the village. The level of education is high in this village; hence 60% adolescents were busy at school.

Women reported cases of cancer among two women who lost their lives due to lack of treatment. With this, the participants were explained the importance of timely treatment.

College-going girls have started using sanitary napkins.

Gitaben said that initially she was embarrassed to go to the doctor regarding her prolapsed uterus, but will do so now.

Champaben and Leelaben too realized the need to address their problems as well as to prevent it from manifesting itself.

Village Masali

The women present voiced that women from certain communities indulge in some addictions. Moreover, since saataa is practiced in some communities, girls get married early and become mothers at a young age which affects their reproductive health.

Gitaben complained of vaginal itching and was advised to take treatment.

The ASHA worker voiced her readiness to distribute Iron tablets to all the adolescent girls in the area.

Adolescents expressed that they too would undertake the entire course of treatment for their benefit.

Many girls resolve that they would gather courage and ensure that they get married after 18 years of age.

Village Chaniyaghar

Girls in this village normally attain higher education upto the college level. Around 10-12 girls said that they use sanitary napkins.

The ASHA worker said that she would hold meetings and distribute sanitary napkins.

Problems such as irregular menses, uterine pain and vaginal itching were discussed during the meeting.

Village Karsangadh

A large number of women and adolescent girls here were found to be malnourished. Even young women look older than their age. The level of education is also low.

Women expressed that they bathe every two days and use some rags as menstrual protection.

Namitaben said that due to language problem, all women do not attend the meetings.

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