Hanyu Y

What are the indicators of sanitary menstrual practices in India and how do patterns of insufficient menstrual resources lead to lower rates of educational attainment for females in India?

Started Apr. 26, 2024

Abstract or project description

Abstract Background The menstrual cycle is a vital physiological process that profoundly influences the lives of women all across the globe. However, the issue of menstrual poverty, defined as the lack of access to sanitary resources and education necessary for the safe and dignified management of menstrual cycles, continues to persist in nations worldwide. As a result, this deficiency can lead to detrimental consequences such as exacerbating gender inequalities, imposing negative psychological impacts on women, and dangerous health concerns within female populations that lack the essential education and sanitary resources required to take care of their menstrual cycles adequately.

Purpose of study This study aims to identify the factors that contribute to adequate sanitary care and analyze how a lack of menstrual resources effects female educational levels in India by examining data from two main perspectives:

1. What are the indicators of sanitary menstrual practices in India?
2. How do patterns of insufficient menstrual resources lead to lower rates of educational attainment for females in India?

Data This study will utilize survey data from the 2019-2021 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for India, which reports essential health and family welfare data and provides information for 707 districts, 28 states, and 8 union territories. The NFHS-5 sample is a stratified two-stage sample. In the first stage, villages (in rural areas) and census enumeration blocks (in urban areas) were selected as primary sampling units (PSUs), with probability proportional to their population size. The rural PSUs were further stratified by factors like village population size and proportion of scheduled caste/tribe population. The urban PSUs were stratified by the proportion of the scheduled caste/tribe population. In the second stage, 22 households were randomly selected from each sampled PSU. To collect additional data on sensitive topics like sexual behavior and domestic violence, a 15% subsample of households received a longer questionnaire. The sampling frame was based on the 2011 census, and measures were taken to ensure high data quality.

Methods This study employed secondary data analysis on NFHS-5 to analyze factors correlated with sanitary menstrual practices and identify the relationship between a lack of sanitary care and female education level. The primary outcome measures were the usage of sanitary products, type of sanitary resource used, education level, residence, religion, and wealth percentile. Statistical analysis involved hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and correlation analysis, and all analyses were conducted using STATA.

Research Importance or Implications By addressing research question 1, this study will identify the key factors that should be promoted to encourage sanitary menstrual care. These findings can then guide policymaking and NGO initiatives towards targeting the root sources of menstrual inequality, in order to provide more women with the resources they need to properly care for their bodies. The findings for research question 2 will also reveal the correlations and relationships between the level of menstrual care and female education levels within India. This can uncover a potential source of gender inequality, and provide insights into the underlying drivers of educational inequality that policymakers and NGOs can interpret and address in order to uplift women and promote greater gender equity.