Improving Menstrual Health and Hygiene for Vietnam's Young Girls

"Stop THAT Stigma" is a communication campaign designed by youth activists from the Leader of Change (LOC) club working with Plan International Vietnam, sponsored by Kotex by Kimberly Clark.
April 30, 2023 | 07:29
menstruation is viewed as “embarrassing” or “dirty.”
In some places, menstruation is viewed as “embarrassing” or “dirty.”

Thanks to a project's interventions, menstruation - from a "sensitive" topic - is now openly discussed by both students and teachers to breakdown the associated norms.

In Vietnam, adolescent youth coming of age are a large and growing segment of society, including nearly 18% of the total population. In secondary schools, where adolescent girls ages 10-19 years old, are experiencing lower menstruation for the first time, menstrual health management (MHM) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education has not been officially introduced into the curriculum and teachers are significant untrained in the subject in Vietnam.

As results, one third of adolescent youth in Vietnam lack access to essential information on MHM and SRH. Adolescent girls are at greater risk for unwanted, transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and infections of the reproductive tract.

Uninformed boys may show insensitivity to the challenges girls face in managing menstruation, thereby further contributing to misconceptions, stigma, and unhealthy behaviors. However, access to accurate information and materials addresses the stigmas surrounding menstrual hygiene and SRH can empower boys and men to challenge stigma and convince them of the need to be engaged to promote good MHM and SRH practices.

Improving Menstrual Health and Hygiene for Vietnam's Young Girls
At the closing workshop of the project "Vietnamese girl leadership on menstrual hygiene management".

The project "Vietnamese girl leadership on menstrual hygiene management" is implemented by Plan International Vietnam in partnership with the Women Union in Hanoi and Quang Binh province from 2020 - 2023, sponsored by Kimberly Clark Vietnam Foundation.

After three years, the project has provided adolescent girls with the necessary knowledge of sexual reproductive health through almost 360 training workshops; school-based communication events for over 10,000 students; and established 17 Leaders of Change clubs.

The project also supported the community through awareness-raising activities and other facilities, such as 42 seminars/workshops with almost 2,300 attendants from teachers and students; 4,200 members of the Mom-Daughter clubs; 13,507 menstrual pads were given to 9,500 program participants. In addition, online webinars and contests have also gained great interest and participation from over 10,000 students from both areas.

At the event, Truong Thi Thu Thuy, a member of the Department of Family and Social Affair under the Vietnam Women Union, acknowledged the great successes further of the project, and wished for partnership in continuing and expanding the scope of the project, so that more can be "confident in themselves".

Meanwhile, "Stop THAT Stigma" is a communication campaign designed by youth activists from the Leader of Change club working with Plan International Vietnam.

On any given day, around 300 million women and girls around the world will be on their period. The idea of ​​menstruation - a natural and healthy part of life - is still considered “sensitive” and “shameful” to many people, even among girls.

The initiative focuses on sharing perspectives and stories of menstrual experiences through an optimistic, positive lens. By bringing the topic closer to the community, the project team hopes that everyone can discuss and share their views, towards building a safer and more equal life for girls.

"Once, a 10-year-old boy told me firmly that a 'genuine' girl went through a 'battlefield' period every month. It turned out that the boy had an older sister who often asked him to buy sanitary pads because of the pain perhaps being too shy, every sound she made was small and hesitant, causing that cute misunderstanding. That 10-year-old boy, whom I thought was only passionate about assembling Lego, was ready to go on a 'march' to buy menstrual pads for his sister, then naively proud to tell me about his journey. Come to think of it, I still find that act so adorable!

Although many years have passed, the memories of that small conversation always come to life strongly in me every time my childhood memories come flooding back. For me, he has become the little warrior who is always ready to 'march' bravely, breaking down all barriers to support, protect his sister and the person he loves," shared a leader of Change youth group – Cau Giay High School in Hanoi.

“Should girls take a bath/go to places of worship/go to a wedding in their period?” or “Is it a bad luck to meet women on her period in the morning?” Wondering about "advice" shared by many people about menstruation, students from Dan Hoa Secondary School interviewed the community in Minh Hoa, Quang Binh province to understand more about people's perspectives on this “sensitive” issue.

The menstrual experience is not always comfortable for girls and women. The advice and concern from people around should be aimed at helping girls feel more comfortable, instead of guilty and shame when the period comes.

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