At the recent Menstruation Research Conference, hosted by The Menarche, Menstruation, Menopause and Mental Health (4M) consortium at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, PhD researcher Minakshi Dahal presented findings from her study exploring adolescent boys’ understanding and perception of menstruation in Nepal.
Drawing on six focus group discussions conducted in Surkhet district, Karnali Province, the study found that adolescent boys had fragmented knowledge on menstruation. The first information they learned about menstruation at home was about the menstrual restrictions. Adolescent boys realised the menstrual restrictions imposed on girls were unfair and discriminatory and expressed their empathy towards girls facing those restrictions. However, none except one had challenged such practices. The reason was fear of being reprimanded by family and community. They also believed that as young people with no influence in decision-making, their voices would not matter and contribute to change.
Written by:
Josephine Mcallister