Lives and struggles: menstrual health and hygiene practice among adult working women in Kallyanpur slum, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Background: Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) practices remain an important but always forgotten issue of women's health especially adult working women in urban slums. This study explores the lived experiences and struggles of menstrual health and hygiene practices among adult working women residing in Kallyanpur slum, Dhaka, Bangladesh, shedding light on their lived experiences, challenges, health outcome and their coping strategies. Methods: A qualitative approach was used, it involved in depth interview (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 25 participants, who included domestic workers, garment workers and informal sector employees. Thematic analysis was done to find key patterns and narratives, making sure there was trustworthiness through validation and reflexivity measures Results: The finding shows that menstruation remains a stigmatized and challenging experience for adult working women; it all begins with confusion and fear during menarche and continues in adulthood. Women face increased struggles due to societal expectations, financial challenges and a lack of support at workplaces. Lack of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities makes them compromise their health. Physical symptoms like painful cramps, fatigue and infections were reported, as well as mental health issues, which included stress and lowered self esteem due to stigma and work pressures from employers. Coping mechanisms included makeshift solutions, relying on close family members for support and silence just to maintain peace with employers and meet their daily tasks. Conclusion: The study points out the urgent need for interventions to address the MHH practices struggles of adult working women in urban slums. Recommendations include providing WASH facilities, subsidized menstrual products, implementing workplace policies that support MHH practices. Create awareness of MHH practices to reduce stigma and encourage open discussions, these will empower women and positively improve their quality of life as they manage MHH.