According to a national survey conducted recently by global research organisation AC Nielsen and NGO Plan India, only 12 per cent menstruating women in India follow hygienic practices such as using sanitary napkins. As for the rest, they are left with alternatives such as unsterilised clothes, ashes and husk sand.

The survey also found 23 per cent adolescent girls drop out of school after reaching puberty.

Reacting to the revelations, Dr M. Tripurasundari, HoD, Gynaecology, Gandhi Hospital, said, “Women from different districts come to us every day with Rrproduvtive Tract Infections, or other diseases stemming from unhygienic menstrual practices. Besides poverty and ignorance, superstition is also a discouraging factor in use of sanitary napkins.”

Dr Tripurasundari said even in many “educated” families, women and girls are secluded during their menstrual period — they often stay without a bath or changing the cloth they use as alternative.
The body’s immunity level being poor at this vulnerable time, unsanitary practices lead to ailments, some of which might even turn chronic, like cervical cancer” she said.

Findings from another pan-India survey, conducted by a well-known sanitary napkin company, revealed, “Most gynaecologists believe sanitary napkins can act as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of cervical cancer among women. Inadequate menstrual protection and unhygienic practices may also lead to infertility.”

Though the government undertakes sanitary health programmes, health officials said most women, especially in rural and tribal areas, follow unhygienic sanitary practices primarily due to poverty, superstition, lack of awareness and education, besides the lack of easy availability of napkins.