A menstruation hut in the Nepali village of Achham, on November 23, 2011.
Thomson added that the study had heard anecdotal evidence of girls who didn't even have a hut to sleep in -- during their periods, they would be forced to sleep out in the elements or with animals. The girls often reported feeling heightened "stress, anxiety, and disempowerment" during their time in the huts, the study said. Apart from the physical danger and mental health consequences of sleeping in the menstruation huts, the girls also faced strong social stigma when they were on their periods. Many girls surveyed said they were not allowed to touch male family members, cook or enter kitchens, or eat normal foods like dairy products while menstruating.An ineffective ban
Since Chhaupadi was criminalized, national and local officials have claimed that the practice is "largely eradicated." Under the law, anyone who forces a woman into a menstrual hut will be sentenced to three months in prison or fined the equivalent of $30. But activists and researchers say this hasn't diminished the prevalence of the custom, and that women are still banished to other isolated spaces. The 17-year-old who died in February hadn't been placed in a hut, but rather a small, unused room of a house. Even in 2017, when Nepal's Parliament passed the bill banning the practice, experts worried it would do little to change deeply-rooted cultural norms and beliefs. Rural residents complained about the bill, with some telling CNN the government was disrespecting their traditions. The new study reflects how Chhaupadi is perpetuated within close communities and passed on between generations despite the ban. The stringent rules of the practice were "most keenly enforced by elders within their family and community," such as mothers, grandmothers, and other senior women, the study found. The practice isn't limited to rural areas or girls with low education levels; even school teachers, health workers, and local leaders sleep in the menstruation huts, according to Renu Sharma, president of local non-profit The Women's Foundation. The number of women who practice Chhaupadi may be even higher than the study's 77%, she added. Another part of the problem is loose enforcement by official bodies and poor coordination. There are several government ministries that develop policy for menstrual hygiene, but with no clear delegation of responsibility, the issue could easily "fall between the gaps of the various ministries," the study said.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
CAFCC: “Dreams need to score early to unsettle Zamalek” – Former Zamalek striker Felix Aboagye
25 mins -
GHS launches mobile app to counter misinformation about vaccines
36 mins -
Election 2024: Care Ghana warns EC of recruiting political actors as Returning Officers
44 mins -
Mohammed Kudus gets 5th Premier League assist as West Ham hold Liverpool
46 mins -
Religious support source of my success – Asantehene
51 mins -
Sierra Leone energy minister resigns over electricity crisis, as power returns to capital
60 mins -
EC accuses Bright Simons, IMANI Africa of peddling falsehood
1 hour -
GRA/SML contract: Akufo-Addo has whitewashed the KPMG report – Inusah Fuseini
2 hours -
USM Alger receive warm welcome at Oujda Airport ahead of game against RS Berkane
2 hours -
2023/24 Ghana Hockey League to kick-off this weekend
2 hours -
All payments received from our contract with GRA are performance-based, says SML
3 hours -
Marrakech 2024: Ghana’s Zinabu Issah wins gold in women’s discus throw
3 hours -
Our contract with GRA followed due process; ignore contrary reports – SML
3 hours -
SML is just Agyapa in suit and tie – Bright Simons
4 hours -
Domelevo condemns selection of KPMG to audit GRA/SML contract as illegal and unprofessional
4 hours