Tuloni Biya and its impact on menstrual health: A qualitative exploration of the menstrual experiences of adolescent girls in Assam

IF 2 3区经济学 Q2 DEVELOPMENT STUDIES Development Policy Review Pub Date : 2023-03-02 DOI:10.1111/dpr.12699

Daisy Dutta, Chhanda Chakraborti, Pulak Mishra

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Abstract

Motivation

The status of menstrual health (MH) and hygiene management is very low in India due to a widespread culture of silence and secrecy regarding menstruation but, among the Hindu community in the north-east state of Assam, the celebration of Tuloni Biya is a significant cultural event that openly celebrates a girl's menarche.

Purpose

Assuming that this cultural event is indicative of the openness of society towards menstruation, this study explores the cultural celebration of menarche and its various lesser-known details. It aims to find out the role of this celebration of menarche on adolescent girls' MH preparedness.

Methods and approach

A qualitative approach is used. In-depth interviews were conducted with well-informed community members to gather information on the historical background of this cultural event; interviews with some adolescent girls from the community to learn about their experiences of menstrual management and the impact of Tuloni Biya.

Findings

The main purpose of celebrating Tuloni Biya among the Assamese Hindu community is to announce when a girl reaches puberty because the celebration of the power of fertility gives girls and women the social status of being fertile, which the community regards as worthy of respect. Notwithstanding the lack of silence and secrecy about menstruation, the social taboo and stigma still remain. Assam continues to perform poorly in relation to MH, and the cultural celebration of menarche in Assam does not appear to have any significantly positive impact in this regard.

Policy implications

Tuloni Biya could be used as a development tool for bringing constructive changes in MH preparedness in the community, for instance, by celebrating Tuloni Biya (cultural customs and rituals) and the celebration of menstruation (MH education and literacy); through knowledge-sharing sessions by teachers on the occasion of Tuloni Biya; arranging the gifts of kits for MH management from the Health Ministry of Assam on the occasion of Tuloni Biya; training of mothers by the public health system in how to use the opportunity of Tuloni Biya to equip their daughters with adequate information and guidance on MH.

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Tuloni Biya及其对月经健康的影响:对阿萨姆邦少女月经经历的定性探索

在印度，由于普遍存在对月经保持沉默和保密的文化，月经健康和卫生管理的地位很低，但在东北部阿萨姆邦的印度教社区中，庆祝Tuloni Biya是一个重要的文化活动，公开庆祝女孩的月经初潮。假设这一文化事件表明社会对月经的开放，本研究探讨了月经初潮的文化庆祝及其各种鲜为人知的细节。它的目的是找出这种初潮庆祝活动对少女预防MH的作用。方法和方法采用定性方法。深入采访了见多识广的社区成员，以收集有关这一文化活动的历史背景的资料;与社区的一些少女进行访谈，了解她们的经期管理经验和Tuloni Biya的影响。阿萨姆邦印度教社区庆祝图罗尼比亚节的主要目的是宣布女孩何时进入青春期，因为庆祝生育能力赋予了女孩和妇女具有生育能力的社会地位，该社区认为这是值得尊重的。尽管对月经缺乏沉默和保密，但社会禁忌和耻辱仍然存在。阿萨姆邦在生育方面的表现仍然很差，在这方面，阿萨姆邦庆祝月经初潮的文化活动似乎没有任何显著的积极影响。政策影响Tuloni Biya可以作为一种发展工具，为社区的妇幼保健准备带来建设性的变化，例如，通过庆祝Tuloni Biya(文化习俗和仪式)和庆祝月经(妇幼保健教育和扫盲率);通过教师在图罗尼比亚举办的知识分享会;安排阿萨姆邦卫生部在图罗尼比亚之际赠送的保健医院管理工具包;公共卫生系统对母亲进行培训，使她们懂得如何利用Tuloni Biya的机会，让她们的女儿获得充分的卫生保健信息和指导。

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来源期刊

Development Policy Review DEVELOPMENT STUDIES-

CiteScore

3.50

自引率

5.90%

发文量

期刊介绍： Development Policy Review is the refereed journal that makes the crucial links between research and policy in international development. Edited by staff of the Overseas Development Institute, the London-based think-tank on international development and humanitarian issues, it publishes single articles and theme issues on topics at the forefront of current development policy debate. Coverage includes the latest thinking and research on poverty-reduction strategies, inequality and social exclusion, property rights and sustainable livelihoods, globalisation in trade and finance, and the reform of global governance. Informed, rigorous, multi-disciplinary and up-to-the-minute, DPR is an indispensable tool for development researchers and practitioners alike.