Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
5-2023
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph. D.
Department
Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences
Degree Program
Public Health Sciences with a specialization in Health Promotion, PhD
Committee Chair
Harris, Muriel
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Brown, Aishia
Committee Member
Brown, Aishia
Committee Member
Peiper, Nicholas
Committee Member
Zhao, Jianhua
Author's Keywords
menstruation; stigma; Nepali women; taboos; discriminations; lived experiences
Abstract
Despite the numerous challenges and barriers that menstruation taboos and stigma pose to the health and well-being of Nepali women and girls, this problem has received little attention in Nepal and has been under-researched. This study fills a critical gap in our understanding of the lived menstruation experience of Nepali women utilizing a qualitative descriptive approach in Kathmandu, Nepal. The data collection comprised in-depth, semi- structured interviews with 22 Nepali women. The findings provide various influencing socio- cultural factors at multiple levels of socioecological model that shapes the lived menstruation experiences of Nepali women and the impact on their mental, social, and physical health. Participants recommended targeted education programs and strategies, awareness programs, increasing mental health professionals, female health providers, and policy reforms. This study justifies the need for significant changes in knowledge, attitude, and deeply ingrained cultural and religious practices that influence the period during menstruation of women and girls in Nepal.
Recommended Citation
Gurung, Imisha, "Menstruation stigma: A qualitative exploratory study of the lived experiences of Nepali women." (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4105.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/4105