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Table 2 Recommendations by girls through drawing and participatory ranking exercises to create supportive menstrual hygiene management environment in formative schools of Dhaka and Manikganj, 2016

From: Piloting an acceptable and feasible menstrual hygiene products disposal system in urban and rural schools in Bangladesh

Facilities

Recommendations

Quotations

Menstrual hygiene management Products

During the participatory exercises, all the school girls voted their preferred choice of sanitary products and ranked sanitary pads with belt as first choice, sanitary pads with underwear as 2nd choice, and rags as third choice.

The majority of the girls preferred free, or at least subsidized (per piece US$ 0.06 to 0.13) provision of sanitary pad stocks with female teachers in schools.

One girl aged 12 years at grade V in a rural school said: “It would be good if the school can have pad arrangements as we need the product. Any of the female teachers can keep those with them, and we can collect from her.

Disposal bin

During the participatory exercises, all the school girls voted their preferred choice of disposal system and ranked paddle bin with lid as first choice, and swing top bin as second choice.

Girls asked for disposal bin with lid to dispose used pads. They suggested all the girls shall wrap the pads, may be with newspaper which is low-cost, before disposal. The bin can also be wrapped with a plastic to avoid staining the bin, and the disposed pads finally can be buried or burned. Regarding maintenance of those bins, they named janitors, and also suggested that a girl from each class can lead the responsibility.

One girl aged 15 years at grade IX in a rural school said: “It is necessary to have disposal bins that need to be emptied and cleaned. School authority, it would be good if the school authority manages to clean the bins. Otherwise, we have to take the responsibility. For every class there is a captain and I will be agreed upon taking the responsibility to clean the bins.”

Toilet facilities

Girls preferred gender segregated toilet facilities, and suggested to increase the number of toilets with the provision of soap, regular water supply and cleanliness.

One girl aged 16 years at grade X in a rural school said: “I ask for 5 min of leave from class to go to the toilet, though it takes more time as we have to wait in a long queue. We only have two toilets for girls, and it would be great if we could have more toilets!”

Privacy

Girls also asked for a separate room for girls that will provide them privacy, and an access to take rest, manage sudden menstruation or sickness.

One girl aged 15 years at grade VIII in an urban school said: “We will be inspired to attend school during menstruation if our teachers can ensure a supportive environment in the school. There shall be a separate room for us to give us a space.”

Healthcare options

Girls mentioned that sometimes they feel abdominal pain for which they suggested for the provision of pain relief medications, and a doctor or counselor to prepare girls in menstrual hygiene management.

One girl aged 15 years at grade VII in an urban school said: “You can arrange primary medical care facilities at school from where we can collect medicines if needed. We also need someone like a counselor to discuss our frustrations and frightens”.