Implementation Package

Under WinS4Girls, UNICEF worked with ministries of education and other partners at national level (typically through MHM Working Groups) to develop and promote a MHM intervention package informed by the WinS4Girls formative research.

Depending on the country, the intervention packages have taken different forms in response to the diverse needs expressed by girls, their teachers, and their families during the research. For example, they may include national or sub-national policies and guidelines; learning and communication materials; and training modules for teachers, health workers, and peer educators. In some cases, the package has included infrastructure development and pad production or distribution.

The Implementation Package comprised of formative study followed by development of guidelines for inter-departmental convergent WASH programming and this was accompanied by development of audio, visual material for awareness generation.

Formative study:

• The objectives of the formative study included:
• Understanding the challenges girls face in managing menstruation at government schools.
• Investigating the effect of MHM practices on girls’ participation and attainment in school.
• Evaluating the role of the school WASH environment on girls MHM practices.
• Documenting best practices in government schools, whether in terms of WASH, education, support groups or menstrual products to contribute to the knowledge base for developing a basic MHM package for government schools.
• Identifying school environmental drivers and barriers associated with optimizing educational and other benefits to improve MHM for girls, with the aim of refining not only the UNICEF MHM programmes in Indian government schools, but also contribute to broader knowledge and potential solutions for MHM programmes in other countries.
• Contributing to the knowledge base for MHM and WASH in government schools.

Development of MHM Guidelines:

• MHM guidelines were informed by findings of formative study. These were drafted in collaboration with the concerned Departments.
• MHM Guidelines outline what needs to be done by state governments, district administrations, engineers and technical experts in line departments; and school head teachers and teachers; for providing hygienic options to adolescent girls and women for managing menstruation.
• The guidelines are inclusive of action planning frameworks for programming on MHM at National, State and District levels and also include financial aspect.

Research

The team conducted research on MHM practices and the barriers girls face in schools. The research consisted of a review of secondary literature followed by surveys of girls and teachers in schools, focus group discussions among girls, boys, teachers and parents, and stakeholder interviews at national, state and local levels. Ethical clearances were obtained prior to the study. The study was conducted with the intent to informing policy makers on schoolgirls’ MHM and WASH experiences, and the barriers and challenges they still encounter.