Does India’s Menstrual Hygiene Management Scheme exclude the disabled?

Abstract

The Menstrual Hygiene Scheme of the Government of India wishes to generate awareness among adolescent girls, and provide them with hygienic and affordable sanitary napkins. The scheme has been criticised for many reasons by various reviewers. However, we draw attention to a hitherto unaddressed gap that the scheme has effectively overlooked, the menstrual hygiene needs of disabled adolescent girls, and has thereby denied them their right to health and healthcare. This exacerbates health disparities, and raises questions of public health ethics. We conclude with recommendations on how to redress the situation and make the scheme more inclusive.

The Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy in Rural Bangladesh: A Qualitative Analysis

“…Mechanisms for responding to abuse that prevent further trauma for adolescents with CP are required. Fourth, adolescents with disability are often omitted from SRH research and public health policies, strategies and budgets (Dutta & Chakraborti, 2022 ; Peta, 2018 ). There is a need for adolescents with disability to be included to facilitate strategic and effective responses that improve SRH.…”

“…Considered pertinent to the everyday wellbeing of adolescents, the agenda was to embed SRH rights at the heart of development in the Global South. This intention, however, fell short of having a meaningful impact in the lives of adolescents with disability, evidenced by the invisibility of disability issues in research and public health policies and strategies (Dutta & Chakraborti, 2022 ; Peta, 2018 ). Although disappointing, this is not surprising; historically, the sexuality of people with disability has been ignored and suppressed, leading to negative SRH outcomes and contributing to oppression and marginalization (Addlakha et al, 2017 ; Esmail et al, 2009 ).…”