A Narrative Review of Programs on Menstrual Health for Adolescent Girls in India

Context: Menstrual health remains a significant public health challenge in India, particularly among adolescent girls in low- and middle-income communities. Cultural taboos, lack of awareness, and inadequate access to menstrual health knowledge and products contribute to practices that may have adverse health outcomes and social exclusion. Government programs and non-governmental interventions have aimed to address these issues, yet significant barriers persist at various ecological levels. Methods: A narrative review examined the socio-cultural factors influencing menstrual hygiene practices, existing interventions, and their effectiveness among adolescent girls in rural India. Key sources included peer-reviewed journal articles, government reports, and intervention evaluations. Thematic analysis identified common barriers and facilitators to menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Results: Statistics suggest that 24% of adolescent girls in rural India drop out of school post-menarche due to inadequate menstrual hygiene facilities. Social stigma, restrictions on diet and mobility, and misinformation may exacerbate the issue. Government initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission and mobile education platforms like SAATHIYA have improved awareness. Yet, their impact remains limited due to persistent cultural attitudes and infrastructure gaps in rural India. Relevant studies suggest that social and behavioral change communication interventions, such as UNICEF’s GARIMA program, are more effective in reshaping menstrual health narratives and increasing community-level engagement while providing profound education to adolescent girls. Conclusion and Discussion: Addressing menstrual health requires a multifaceted approach where community-driven strategies are integrated with culturally sensitive education involving parents and schools, safe sanitation infrastructure, and policy reforms cut across education and health to include menstruation-related knowledge for all to dismantle menstrual taboos. More nuanced approaches towards the existing and new interventions may offer a viable pathway to normalizing menstruation education and improving adolescent health outcomes in India.