Title:

Rural Women Health Promotion through Locally Produced Re-usable Cloth Pads.
Introduction:
Menstruation, the hormone induced cyclical changes occurring in the female reproductive tract
that begins during adolescence and continues till menopause forms an important aspect of
women’s health. Menarche, the onset of first menstrual cycle is a significant milestone in
women’s life. In India, myths and misconceptions that surround such a natural phenomenon are
widely prevalent. Hygiene related practices during menstruation are of considerable importance,
as they may affect vulnerability to Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs).
According to a National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16, about 57.6 percent of the
Indian women use sanitary napkins and 62 percent women in the age group 15-24 years still rely
on a cloth during periods. However, when it comes to rural areas we see a complete contrast.
With the lack of resources, education and awareness about personal hygiene, the women don’t
even have any conversation around menstruation.

As per the research done by Saral Design, the three primary reasons that influence the lack of
usage are:Lack of awareness of hygiene, Lack of last mile access, Lack of affordability which
means there's a lack of good quality and absorbent affordable products in some areas. Suhani the
Researcher says, “Twenty-three percent of girls drop out of school when they start menstruating
due lack of affordability of menstrual hygiene products. Dropping out of education drives early
child marriage and makes them lose the opportunity to be in the workforce.”

A woman in life time uses up to 16,800 disposable pads and tampons. There are so many reasons
not to support the disposable menstrual product industry, which is based on unneeded waste and
profit at expense of woman’s health and the environment. Disposables are typically made with a
combination of plastic, cotton, synthetic fibres and wood pulp. The cotton materials used in the
disposables are toxic crop grown, using pesticides. These materials are bleached with chlorine
dioxide, which not only end up in the environment, but also remain in our bodies for decades.
There are other synthetic chemicals added to it. And you have side effects like allergic reactions,
hormone disruption, reproductive and gynecological disorders. So re-usable options are much
healthier for women, the loads of money are saved. The environment is saved. Reusable options
are sanitary with right maintenance as it is clean use a removable liner for extra absorption and
has a water proof lining sewn inside. Reusable options are pretty and empowering as they burst
with color, patterns, unique designs as per ones personality.
In the article written by Rajanbir, on Menstrual Hygiene, Management, and Waste Disposal:
Practices and challenges Faced by Girls/Women of Developing Countries, says under the
heading ‘Reusable and washable cloth pads,’ thatCloth pads may be sustainable sanitary option
but must be hygienically washed and dried in the sunlight. The sun’s heat is a natural sterilizer
and drying the cloths/cloth pads under it sterilizes them for future use. These cloth pads are
reusable so they are cost-effective, easily available, and eco-friendly. They also need to be stored
in a clean dry place for reuse to avoid contamination.
The Project Area covers 1886 families of 25 villages in five selected villages of Nagaram, Nizampatnam,
Battiprolu, Vemuru and Repalle mandals(blocks) of Guntur District. The target population is girls and
women youth of Yanadi tribal. The girls and women are daily wage agriculture workers, agriculture
coolies, and domestic workers at Land Lord community. The girls and women face many challenges
in management of menstrual hygiene and therefore risk health. Lack of hygienic practices they
face Reproductive Track infections, and as a result they not only lose health but also daily wage
which is their main source of livelihood. When the period came at home or at working place,
girls and women use old cloth as they do not have alternatives. And they do not afford to buy
disposable sanitary pads.

Objective:
By the end of third year the poor and vulnerable girls and women of Yanadi tribal in five
selected blocks of Guntur District use Locally Produced Re-usable Cloth Pads as a healthy
practice.
Activities:
1. Awareness on hygiene during menstruation time and how to use Re-usable Sanitary pads.
2. Establishment of Tailoring Units.
3. ToT to Health workers and Anganwadi teachers on how to use them.
4. Training on Marketability to Staff and Tailoring Trainees.

Output as Conclusion:
Sustainable Re-usable Cloth Pads Making can be an innovative start up venture in the proposed
operational tribal area of Ramabhadrapuram block of Vizianagaram Dist. it is a good health
practice for the rural women free from Reproductive Track Infections. It can prevent the girls
from dropping from schools or reduce absentisim and improves living condition of women in the
villages.

Design of Re-usable Sanitary Pad

Budget Estimate:
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