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Exploring the factors that inhibit or contribute to the sustainability of school interventions on menstrual health (MH)

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The project comprised two primary elements: an examination of the sustainability of school interventions within the Ritu program, and the dissemination of the resultant findings. Dhaka University, supported by Simavi and Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS), conducted the study. After formulating a study proposal and designing questionnaires, researchers visited the district where Ritu was active. As the six selected schools remained closed due to COVID-19 lockdowns, BNPS assisted in locating headmasters, teachers, students, and government officials for interviews. BNPS also facilitated the researcher’s visits to the schools to inspect the constructed toilets. Based on the gathered information, a report outlining the primary findings was drafted by the researcher. Using this information and additional insights from discussions with the researcher, Simavi developed a fact sheet summarizing the main findings and lessons learned. BNPS utilized this document to create a position paper (for publication) and a policy brief (for advocacy). These documents formed the core material for the online Learning and Sharing event organized by BNPS on April 15th, 2021, to disseminate and discuss the findings. Additionally, the study and key findings were presented in a webinar organized by Simavi in collaboration with Share-Net on December 3rd, 2021. Furthermore, the fact sheet was disseminated through social media platforms and the newsletter of the Menstrual Hygiene Hub.

Knowledge product details

  • Small Grants

  • 2020

  • Bangladesh

  • Menstrual health and hygiene

  • Women and girls

  • Youth SRHR

  • Share-Net Bangladesh

  • Share-Net Netherlands

  • Bangla

  • English

  • Policy Brief

  • Research

  • Webinar

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Factsheet (English) that was developed based on the findings of the study.

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Based on the fact sheet, BNPS developed a policy brief (in Bangla). The brief was reviewed by Simavi Bangladesh. It builds on the two main advocacy messages that were part of the Ritu programme: inclusion of menstrual health education in primary and secondary school education and access to female-friendly toilets in primary and secondary schools.

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The position paper (in Bangla) was also developed by BNPS, based on the key findings of the research mentioned on the fact sheet. It covers the main findings of the study and highlights the drop in commitment of stakeholders between the handing over of project activities and the time of the study.

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English summary of position paper.

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Main conclusions from webinar: Menstrual Health: Learnings from the Ritu Programme in Bangladesh (December 2020)

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Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha (BNPS)

BNPS is an activist women’s organization, founded in 1986, working to establish equality for women. Striving to develop women’s agency at the grass-roots level and contribute to bringing their voices to national, regional and international levels.

They have taken an active role in national, regional and international networks and have special membership status in the UN Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC.

Experienced and competent staff committed to BNPS’s principles and values, guided by an executive committee composed of scholarly women from multi-disciplinary background, is BNPS’s source of strength.

Dhaka University

Founded in 1921, The University of Dhaka has always had the mission of uplifting the educational standards of the people of the region. It was initially meant to provide tertiary education to people who didn’t have access to higher studies till then. Subsequently, it has contributed significantly to the socio-cultural and political development of what was once East Bengal and then East Pakistan, and is now Bangladesh.

Since its establishment, the university has been fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of its students and their parents. It has, of course, not only been a lighthouse of learning, but has also acted as a torch-bearer of the people of the region in issues such as democracy, freedom of expression, and the need for a just and equitable society. It has always been associated with high quality education and research in which students as well as faculty members and alumni have played their parts. The University of Dhaka’s role has expanded beyond its classrooms and research labs during different crises the country has had to face since 1947. In many ways, thus, the university is unique, for it has played a major role in the creation of the independent nation-state of Bangladesh in 1971.

Simavi

Simavi is an independent international non-profit organisation. With effective projects Simavi encourages girls and women to claim their human right to water and sanitation & equity, resulting in a physically, mentally and socially healthier society for everyone. Simavi – powerful women, healthy societies.

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