In 2010 an AC Nielson and Plan India report stated that only
12% out of the 355 million reproductive-age women in India used absorbent pads
or other hygienic sanitary methods. The figure is abysmal, compared to
countries like China, where majority of women use sanitary napkins. Most of
them relied on old fabric, husks, dried leaves and grass, ash, sand or
newspapers.
According to gynecologists, use of alternative
sanitary care measures such as unsterilised cloths, sand and ash make women
susceptible to infections and diseases. Not maintaining proper hygiene could
lead to severe infections like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and even Cervical
Cancer. According to World Health Organisation, India accounted to 27% of the
world’s cervical cancer deaths. Occurrence of Reproductive Tract Infections
(RTI) is 70% more common amongst women who use unhygienic materials during
menstruation stated a survey conducted by Dasra.
Majority of the women due to poor financial
condition cannot buy quality sanitary napkins, among the of cloth users, 45%
reuse cloth and 70% dry them in shade, increasing chances of infections.
It is not just a health issue; the girl child’s
education is also being affected due to this. As per
a survey conducted by Dasra and Forbes Marshall, approximately 23% of
girls (aged 12-18 years) opted out of the school in India after they started
menstruating. It also mentioned that in some places almost 66% of girls would
skip school during this time and eventually one-third of them dropped out.
Adolescent girls in rural India are unable to attend up to 50 days of schooling
in a year due to inadequate menstrual care, the report said.
East India emerged as the region where the state of
feminine hygiene is significantly poorer. Amongst women who use cloth, over 70%
in East said they feel insecure during periods and wished they knew more on the
subject, said Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India.
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