Research Specialist, Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Research Associate, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2020 Dec;28(1):1749342. doi: 10.1080/26410397.2020.1749342.
Menstruation frequently poses psychological, social, and health challenges for young women living in low- and middle-income countries. In countries such as India, where menstruation is stigmatised, it can be particularly difficult. This paper examines challenges related to menstruation for young women living in slums in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The research was informed by the socio-ecological model. Life course interviews were conducted with 70 young women ages 15-24 living in the slums of Lucknow. Thematic analysis was used to identify salient themes regarding individual, social, and systemic challenges related to menstruation. On the individual level, young women lack knowledge about menstruation. In the social sphere, young women experience stigma around menstruation, lack opportunities to discuss menstruation, and experience limitations around mobility and other activities during menstruation. At the institutional level, for example in school, there are few resources to support menstruating young women as toilets are dirty and doors are broken. Therefore, menstruating adolescents and young women in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, face an array of challenges at multiple levels. These findings suggest that multi-level interventions are warranted to create a supportive context for menstruation.
对于生活在中低收入国家的年轻女性来说，月经常常带来心理、社会和健康方面的挑战。在像印度这样的国家，月经被污名化，情况尤其困难。本文探讨了印度北方邦勒克瑙贫民窟中年轻女性在月经方面面临的挑战。这项研究的理论基础是社会生态模式。研究人员对 70 名年龄在 15 岁至 24 岁之间生活在勒克瑙贫民窟的年轻女性进行了生活史访谈。采用主题分析方法，确定了与月经相关的个人、社会和系统挑战的突出主题。在个人层面上，年轻女性缺乏月经方面的知识。在社会层面上，年轻女性在月经期间会受到污名化，缺乏讨论月经的机会，并在月经期间的行动和其他活动方面受到限制。在制度层面上，例如在学校，几乎没有资源来支持月经来潮的年轻女性，因为厕所很脏，门也坏了。因此，印度北方邦勒克瑙的月经来潮青少年和年轻女性在多个层面上都面临着一系列挑战。这些发现表明，需要采取多层次的干预措施，为月经创造一个支持性的环境。
