Paper short abstract:

Menstruation and taboo is the deepest form of patriarchy. Through a feasibility study conducted in South Sudan, using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected which represented how women suffer due to a lack of hygiene products, knowledge, and awareness of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)

Paper long abstract:

Multiple gendered taboos that affect women and their overall health are normal amongst countries with a patriarchal setup. One among those is South Sudan's two counties - Ayod and Fangak - where we conducted our research to introspect the current COVID-19 scenario and their annual floods - and its impact on women's health. More than the pandemic, the flood situation is said to have changed the dynamics of hygiene practices. The research, that includes data from household surveys (n=462), KIIs (19), and FGDs (n=6), helped us to understand the situation that has led to an increase in vulnerabilities among the community members towards hazards that have ultimately given rise to health issues, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) - collectively.

Menstrual health was widely reported as a 'development needs' given 60.1% of female respondents said that they did not use any menstrual hygiene materials while 17.6% reported using old clothes or rags as a substitute for menstrual pads. This is the long-stuck taboos around the topic of menstrual hygiene which forces women to bury their menstrual waste in order 'hide' it from their men in the family.

To eliminate the said taboos, 23.19% of female respondents suggested that menstrual hygiene awareness provided to their spouses would help them deal with menstrual hygiene in a 'culturally' and 'respectfully' open situation. While the others claimed that the information on usage and disposal of sanitary pads and counselling support might be useful to better manage their menstrual hygiene needs.