Menstrual hygiene management practices after the chhaugoth demolition campaign in Achham, Nepal

Menstruation, also called as Chhau (in Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces of Nepal); is inextricably connected to social taboos and stigma in Nepal. Women who menstruate known as "Chhaupadi", are traditionally bound to stay in secluded huts called Chhaugoth during their menstrual periods and after child birth. Such practices have adverse social, economic and health consequences. Although Chhaupadi is legally punishable in Nepal; this practice remains prevalent. In 2017, the Government of Nepal launched the Chhaugoth demolition campaign to eliminate this practices. In this context, this study aimed to identify the menstrual hygiene management practices after the Chhaugoth Demolition Campaign in Chaurpati Rural Municipality of Achham district, Nepal.

This was a cross-sectional quantitative study; conducted among 385 resident girls and women of the Chaurpati Rural Municipality, Achham who were in the menstrual life span (menarche to pre- menopause). A multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents from the six wards of Chaurpati Rural Municipality. Data were collected through individual interview using KOBO toolbox. Data were analyzed using IBM's SPSS 21. Ethical approval was obtained from IRC of Pokhara University. Appropriate descriptive statistics such as mean/median and SD were applied.

Most of the participants (93.5%) reported that existing Chhaugoths in their communities had been demolished. Consequently, 85.5% now reside in separate rooms at home during menstruation. However, 11% still use Chhaugoths, often covertly. Participants reported improved living arrangements (30.8%); yet menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices remained poor. While, 48.6% used sanitary pads, disposal practices remained suboptimal, with 29.1% burned pads and 15.1% dumped them directly in water sources posing environmental health risks.

This study demonstrates progress in shifting women from hazardous menstrual seclusion to safer, in-house accommodations following the Chhaugoth demolition campaign. However, critical gaps persist in menstrual waste disposal and supportive infrastructure. To achieve sustainable menstrual dignity and equity, interventions must combine targeted behavior change communication with early, pre-menarche education, to foster generational shifts in practices and norms. Further, studies explaining the factors associated with successful implementation of interventions and their effectiveness constitute the future scope of the study.