NANFeatures/Vol.11/No.145/2017 (Oct. 16)
How do taboos, myths impede menstrual hygiene management?
A News Analysis by Philip Dzeremo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Unarguably, societies across the world are regulated by customs and traditions, including myths and taboos, especially in developing countries.
Observers note that although societies hold traditions sacrosanct, believing in them to be guides, the underlining issues that hold such belief systems are, sometimes, couched in ignorance, misconceptions and falsehood.
For instance, a certain ethnic group in Benue believes that a woman in her menstruation is unclean and she has to be isolated for that period in a tent outside the main compound.
During the period also, she is considered unfit to live among other family members, the development that affects her dignity and self worth.
If she is a student, the development often affects her participation in academic programmes as she suffers shame and embarrassment and, in some extreme cases, drops out of school.
Yet, among some other ethnic group in the state, it is forbidden for a menstruating woman to share her husband’s bedroom; sometimes she is not allowed to prepare meals because she is considered unclean.
Also, to some cultures, menstruation is a bad omen that attracts evil spirits while others associate it with bad luck.
It has even been reported that menstruating women have been compelled in some instances to undergo purification before her integration to the society.
Medical personnel, however, argue that this ought not to be in an enlightened society, insisting that menstruation is a normal biological process and a key sign of reproductive health.
It is against this background that United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in conjunction with Anambra Rural Water Sanitation Agency, organised a two-day workshop on menstrual hygiene management recently in Awka.
Participants in the workshop were personnel from Universal Basic Education Commission, health workers, school proprietors, teachers, ministries for women affairs from Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa Cross rivers and the media.
Mr Job Omiuyi, UNICEF coordinator of the workshop said the focus of the workshop was to disseminate research findings on menstrual hygiene management and review basic package interventions.
He noted that the workshop would as well highlight issues affecting menstrual hygiene management in the country and suggest ways of improvement.
Omiuyi said the workshop sought to secure the commitment of stakeholders to supporting the implementation of menstrual hygiene management and the imperative of better understanding of menstrual hygiene.
The participants identified ignorance, taboos, cultural stereotypes and misconceptions as factors affecting menstrual hygiene management negatively.
They suggested historical and religious approach to debunking myths and taboos associated with menstruation.
They also suggested that, apart from addressing taboos and myths, appropriate authorities should provide integrated toilets with menstrual hygiene management fitted facilities in schools to enhance sanitary conditions of women and the girl-child.
They recommended that parents should introduce puberty education to their children as early as they attained the age of reasoning.
Having recognised the roles that traditional and religious leaders play in society, participants agreed that such leaders should be made “champions’’ of menstrual hygiene management in their respective domains by creating awareness among their subjects.
They solicited seminars and workshops for traditional rulers, community leaders, teachers on menstrual hygiene and emphasised the importance of increased awareness on menstrual hygiene management through the media, school drama and debates.
During the workshop, the participants examined the conditions of women, especially young girls in schools, during menstruation.
They noted that most schools lacked clean sanitary wares, access to clean water, pads and disposal systems.
They expressed concern that most girls were exposed to health challenges because of the poor and inadequate hygiene.
The high points of the discussion during the workshop included sub topics such as “Awareness Creation and Advocacy, Institutionalisation of Menstrual Hygiene Management, Access to appropriate facilities and Menstrual Hygiene Materials, Dealing with Taboos, Myths and Misconceptions’’, among others.
The participants identified parents, teachers, traditional and religious leaders, opinion leaders as duty bearers saddled with crucial roles in menstrual hygiene management.
They also suggested that handbooks on menstrual hygiene management should be introduced in schools while menstrual hygiene management-friendly toilet facilities should be built in communities, schools and religious places.
As measures to step up menstrual hygiene management, the participants advised the evaluators of state universal basic education boards to include menstrual hygiene management in their quality assurance programmes.
The participants insisted on the need to provide sanitary wares and toilets by households as some measures to promote menstrual hygiene.
The participants also adopted some strategic plans in dealing with menstrual hygiene management such as the establishment of sanitary shops in schools to be handled by menstrual hygiene management clubs.
According to them, the provision of menstrual hygiene management handbooks, training and retraining of teachers on menstrual hygiene management are cardinal to achieving the desired results in that regard.
They agreed that introduction of drama presentations on menstrual hygiene in schools and religious places would as well assist girls in their menstrual periods.
All in all, stakeholders, note that sensitisation and advocacy campaigns in menstrual hygiene management such as those enumerated will drastically reduce ignorance caused by taboos, myths and stigma associated with menstruation.
They, nonetheless, solicit the assistance of the public to promote menstrual hygiene management methods to preserve the dignity of women and girls.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)