Baseline assessment of Menstrual Hygiene Management in 5 districts of Uttar Pradesh using a mixed methods approach
Client Name:Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) – UNOPS
Location:Uttar Pradesh (Agra, Etah, Bahgpat, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur)
Background Context: The Swacch Bharat Mission, Uttar Pradesh, sought to improve awareness of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) among front-line service providers and ultimately women, girls and men; access to products and WASH facilities, across districts in the state.
Objectives
At the request of the Swacch Bharat Mission, Uttar Pradesh WSSCC is providing support in 5 districts of the state to raise awareness of menstruation and improve MHM practices. District officials from across departments are being trained as master trainers, who would then build the capacity of FLWs, ultimately impacting the community. The baseline assessment was done prior to the intervention, with the following objectives:
- To understand the knowledge and perceptions of women, girls, and men on MHM
- To understand practices related to product use and disposal, and the availability of WASH facilities to manage menstruation
- To understand the perspectives of Government officials on MHM, challenges in the implementation of MHM programs and recommendations
Approach and Methodology
- Method/ Design: Mixed methods- Quantitative survey (cluster sampling technique used), Qualitative interactions (Focus Group Discussions and key informant interviews)
- Key Respondents/ Informants: Women, girls, men, boys, officials from Departments of Health, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Women and Child Development and school teachers.
- Key Areas of Inquiry: Understanding menstruation, individual attitudes & practices, sources of information on menstruation, vocabulary used for menstruation, restrictions during menstruation, awareness, access and use of menstrual products, disposal of menstrual waste, access to WASH infrastructure and facilities, challenges faced in managing menstruation, role of government.
- Sample: Quantitative- 735, Qualitative- 66 (FGDs- 37, IDIs-29)
Impact
The assessment results were used by WSSCC and the state Swachh Bharat Mission as a benchmark for training and capacity-building intervention in the five districts. The results enabled the modification/ adaptation of training and communication materials and to development of a training strategy and plan to strengthen menstrual health management.
Contact
17/109, Lower Ground Floor, Vikram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi – 110024