Review of article on ‘Menstrual Hygiene Management: A study of Perception , Problem, and Practices Among Urban Slums of Delhi’, done by Harshika Kejrival, Subham Jain, Shiksha Kushwah, Mahim Sagar and Manvi Bansal

Menstruation is the monthly shedding of a woman's uterine lining. Between menarche and

menopause, MHM (menstrual hygiene management) is an important aspect of women's and

adolescent girls' hygiene. Even though MHM is a critical concern for women and adolescents

of reproductive age, it is commonly overlooked. The goal of the study was to identify and

close the gap to gain a comprehensive understanding of MHM perceptions and challenges in

urban slums, as well as the hygiene practices involved. Menstruation demands the availability

of materials to absorb or collect period blood, ease personal cleanliness, and dispose of the

waste, ideally in a private setting. In low-income settings, women and girls are less aware of

hygienic practices and lack culturally appropriate resources for menstrual hygiene

management (MHM). Silence, shame, and social taboos surround menstruation and related

activities in India, which are represented in social norms that restrict mobility, independence,

and access to regular activities.

The study attempted to demonstrate that there is a significant lack of knowledge about

menstrual hygiene, which leads to opportunities for unhygienic practices such as using low-

quality pads for longer periods, as well as the affordability and availability of these products

in urban slums at a reasonable price. The cost of menstrual products may also contribute to

the perception that girls are financially burdened. Period-related mocking is a major source of

worry for adolescent girls.

The first and most significant strategy in this regard is to increase adolescent ladies'

awareness of menstrual health and cleanliness. As a result of their moms' and other female

relatives' resistance to discussing the matter with them, many young girls have minimal

knowledge of menstruation. Adult women may be oblivious of biological facts or

fundamental hygienic practices, instead of passing along cultural taboos and constraints.

Women's empowerment through education and enhanced decision-making power can also

contribute to this goal. Women and girls are routinely excluded from decision-making due to

their lower literacy levels. Menstruation is a normal biological event, and young girls and

women should understand that it is only because of this characteristic that they can

reproduce. They have the potential to give birth to new life, and this process assists them in

reaching that point of fulfilment within their bodies.

Menstrual hygienic problems are thus a human issue, not only a female burden!

Ms. Mini. V. K

Assistant Professor of Commerce, Al Shifa College of Arts and Science, Kizhattoor, Perinthalmanna.