Menstruating Women and COVID- 19: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Menstruation is a normal biological process. Approximately 1.8 billion people menstruate, yet million of menstruators across the world cannot manage their monthly cycle in a dignified, healthy way. Menstrual products are essential aspect of the menstrual hygiene management (UNICEF, 2008). Even in best of times, discriminatory social, religious and cultural norms, period poverty and lack of basic services often causes menstrual health and hygiene needs to go unmet. In emergencies, these deprivations become exacerbated (Jahan, 2020). Access to menstrual hygiene products has also been neglected during covid-19 pandemic, as periods do not stop for pandemic. The secondary impacts of the pandemic are excessively borne by the millions of girls and women, especially the one who reside in slum areas. The present paper has highlighted the various challenges faced by menstruating women residing in slum areas of Jammu city during the covid-19 pandemic. Majority of the women faced problems regarding access to sanitary products during lockdown and many started using cloth pads for managing their periods during lockdown because of the financial crisis.