Menstrual Health in South India: Knowledge, Stigma, and Barriers to Participation

Menstrual health remains a neglected public health challenge in India, where persistent stigma, incomplete education, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to resources can negatively affect health and social participation. A study conducted at a hospital in Coimbatore and a college in Wayanad evaluated the effectiveness of an educational program on menstrual health. Of 83 participants surveyed before the course, 97.6% recognized menstruation as a biological process, but only 46.3% agreed it was not solely a woman's issue. On average, 7.44 out of 10 respondents considered menstruation taboo, and 66.2% reported avoiding activities during menstruation. Painful periods were identified as a barrier by 83.6% of respondents, and 26.9% found public toilets insufficiently clean and private for menstrual management. The research documents a significant gap between basic biological understanding and social normalization of menstruation.