Global Journal of Human Social Science, C: Sociology and Culture, Volume 22 Issue 1

time, as the rating is out of 10, the improved mean rating of 6.27 still indicates that there is considerable room for improvement. The mean rating of 6.27 for respondents aged 36-60 is higher than that of respondents ages 16- 35 (5.50). [table 1-8] The initial mean score for the entire sample denotes that the respondents were not aware about menstrual hygiene. This would seem to confirm the general literature that indicates the women in India are unaware about menstruation. Two hundred million women in India lack awareness of menstrual hygiene and associated health care practices. (“Spot On!: Improving Menstrual Management in India”, 2015, p. 18). There was a significant increase in the overall mean scores suggesting that the campaign did exert a positive impact on the respondent’s awareness level. This depicts that awareness workshops, specifically educational videos from credible sources like gynaecologists, could go a long way in making an impact. Furthermore, in conversations with the respondents, the respondents were curious about reusable pads as that was something the respondents did not know about before. The respondents were restricted from activities such as entering the kitchen, they wanted to know if it was possible to gain some freedom from such restrictions by wearing the pads and whether it was really needed to follow these restrictions. These restrictions are imposed on them because of old traditions and beliefs. The respondents were reassured that they would be able to continue with all their daily activities, irrespective of their menstruation. The respondents listened carefully and their expression revealed a hope for a better future. Although the improvement in the mean ratings was substantial, it is important to point out that there is still tremendous room for improvement with a post- campaign rating. While the girls had become more aware of the basics about menstruation (such as what it is and why it happens), they are still not aware of the diseases that can arise from poor hygiene practices during menstruation or the symptoms to recognise when they should seek medical care which is offered by the public healthcare system. With regards to the differences between the age categories, the biggest impact was on respondents aged 36-60 with a change of 201.4%, while respondents in the 8-15 age group gave the lowest rating (change of 152.9%.) This could likely be attributed to the fact that many would not have started menstruating. As such, it would have been difficult for them to relate to the message of the campaign. When the video was being shown, the women in the 36-60 age group showed the best understanding of what was being said. The respondents in this age group were more attentive and opened up more about the problems they faced like, cramps and back pain during menstruation. [table 7-8] During conversations with 40-50 participants after the campaign, these participants said that they liked using the reusable pad, as it was far more comfortable than using cloth. These participants also had access to hygienic menstrual practices for the first time, which had changed their lives: “We used to face a lot of problems when we used cloth while conducting our daily activities like sleeping and sitting. These pads gave us dignity.” “I used to feel ashamed in front of my young son when I used cloth, now I have told my daughter about the pad, I have told everyone.” “A lot of women in our village did not know about pads, nor did they use them. When you came and spoke to them and distributed pads, they really liked it and started using them. They also spoke to others and their next generation about it. You have helped them a lot and made a difference to their lives.” Table 13 and table 14 show that people who did not share their knowledge liked reusable pads more than the ones who did, which would seem counter- intuitive: usually, if someone likes something, you would be more likely to talk about it. Such an occurrence testifies to the extent of the taboo surrounding menstruation in the rural areas of India. Therefore, one can imagine why the participants who liked the reusable pads were afraid to share their knowledge with the people around them for fear of being stigmatised, which is articulated in the following passage: Discrimination against menstruating women is widespread in India, where periods have long been a taboo and considered impure. They are often excluded from social and religious events, denied entry into temples and shrines and even kept out of kitchens. (“Why India Must Battle the Shame of Period Stain”, 2020). Although the girls talked about their experiences about menstruation, none of them spoke about taboos or the restrictions. Have grown up with deeply held beliefs which have been ingrained in them over years by their mothers and elders, such as a menstruating girl is impure. In order to get the girls to talk about these beliefs and be open to change these beliefs, it will require deeper interventions than just one workshop. There may also be a fear of social ostracisation if a girl challenges the beliefs that have been widely held by the community. The findings of this research study allow organisations in the future to see the areas which need more work, such as breaking taboos. Breaking taboos would help make conversations about menstruation normal which right now is one of the biggest problems in India. As shown by the Spot On & Off campaign, the girls want to change and learn more. More campaigns need to be done to increase their awareness further. As my campaign has shown, there is much we can do to make a change in the lives of females in rural villages. If more individuals and organisations work and collaborate Volume XXII Issue I Version I 42 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 © 2022 Global Journals C “Spot On & Off”: Evaluation of Effectiveness of Self-Formulated Menstrual Hygiene Campaign in Rural India