Gore Manisha, Patwardhan Avinash
Symbiosis International (Deemed) University Lavale, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
J Prim Care Community Health. 2025 Jan-Dec;16:21501319251359136. doi: 10.1177/21501319251359136. Epub 2025 Jul 21.
In the state of Maharashtra in India, a pilgrimage called "Pandharpur Wari" attracts half a million pilgrims annually. Orthodox Hindu culture is generally resistant to allowing women to participate in religious functions during their menstruation. With a significant female presence, ensuring adequate Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) is crucial. Due to scant reliable quantitative data, a qualitative study was conducted to investigate first-hand accounts of experiences of WASH facilities and MHH practices of women pilgrims during 2023 pilgrimage.
This study employed a qualitative design with convenience sampling, selecting 100 women pilgrims (aged 18-45 years) from the pilgrimage across 3 sites. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Descriptive and thematic analyses were conducted to examine experiences, challenges, and suggestions.
Over half (53%) were aged 32 to 41 years while (18%) were between 22 and 31 years. Most had studied up to secondary level (77%) and were married (95%). Thirty-four percent were farmers and a few had some other day job (7%). A large majority (97%) faced difficulties accessing toilets and bathing facilities, with some resorting to open defecation (36%). About (2%) used oral contraceptive to delay periods and (7%) experienced menstruation during pilgrimage. Lack of facilities for bathing and toilets along the pilgrimage route was one prominent challenge. Other challenges were, needing to bathe in the open, lack of gender-segregated facilities, and scanty sanitary facilities along the route. Women were found to be resilient in managing menstruation amidst systemic gaps. It was also found that cultural beliefs shaped pilgrimage participation while in menses and how it was hard to manage menstruation during pilgrimage without adequate infrastructure.
The pilgrimage poses logistical, sanitation challenges for the pilgrims. Strategic planning, including mobile toilets, private bathing, menstrual hygiene support can improve the experience.
在印度马哈拉施特拉邦，一场名为“潘德尔布尔朝圣之旅”的朝圣活动每年吸引着50万朝圣者。正统的印度教文化通常抵制女性在经期参与宗教活动。由于女性朝圣者数量众多，确保充足的水、环境卫生与个人卫生（WASH）设施以及经期健康与卫生（MHH）至关重要。由于可靠的定量数据匮乏，开展了一项定性研究，以调查2023年朝圣期间女性朝圣者对WASH设施及MHH做法的第一手体验。
本研究采用定性设计，通过便利抽样从3个地点的朝圣者中选取了100名女性朝圣者（年龄在18 - 45岁之间）。通过半结构化访谈收集数据。进行描述性和主题分析以审视体验、挑战和建议。
超过一半（53%）的人年龄在32至41岁之间，而18%的人年龄在22至31岁之间。大多数人接受过中等教育（77%）且已婚（95%）。34%是农民，少数人有其他日常工作（7%）。绝大多数（97%）在使用厕所和沐浴设施方面面临困难，一些人甚至 resort to open defecation（36%）。约2%的人使用口服避孕药来推迟经期，7%的人在朝圣期间 menstruation。朝圣路线沿线缺乏沐浴和厕所设施是一个突出的挑战。其他挑战包括需要在露天沐浴、缺乏性别隔离设施以及沿途卫生设施不足。研究发现，在系统性差距面前，女性在管理经期方面具有 resilience。还发现文化信仰塑造了女性在经期参与朝圣的方式，以及在没有足够基础设施的情况下，在朝圣期间管理经期有多困难。
朝圣对朝圣者构成了后勤和卫生方面的挑战。包括移动厕所、私人沐浴、经期卫生支持在内的战略规划可以改善体验。
