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‘There is no shame in it’ - Girls’ Sense of Empowerment Viewed in the Context of Menstrual Health Programs in Tanzania

Dalsgaard, Christina Sidsel LU (2019) MIDM19 20191
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
In Tanzania, adolescent girls face a number of menstrual challenges that derive from material- and psychosocial deprivations that are being reinforced by menstrual stigmas. To explore how this problem can be addressed, this study had three interlinked areas of focus. Firstly, the study explored the individual and community perceptions of menstruation viewed from female adolescents’ perspectives and further, how these influenced their daily life. Secondly, the study explored how menstrual health challenges affect female adolescents’ sense of agency, and finally, how a menstrual health program influences their sense of empowerment. The research is a qualitative case study, where individual interviews with 15 adolescent girls were conducted.... (More)
In Tanzania, adolescent girls face a number of menstrual challenges that derive from material- and psychosocial deprivations that are being reinforced by menstrual stigmas. To explore how this problem can be addressed, this study had three interlinked areas of focus. Firstly, the study explored the individual and community perceptions of menstruation viewed from female adolescents’ perspectives and further, how these influenced their daily life. Secondly, the study explored how menstrual health challenges affect female adolescents’ sense of agency, and finally, how a menstrual health program influences their sense of empowerment. The research is a qualitative case study, where individual interviews with 15 adolescent girls were conducted. Adding with a new perspective, these girls had three years prior to the data collection participated in a menstrual health program. Firstly, menarche as a transition to womanhood and stigma were by identified as key themes, where stigma, in particular, was found to have adverse implications for girls. Secondly, material- and psychosocial deprivations were found to leave girls in a state of disempowerment, which thirdly, were addressed by a menstrual health program that empowered the girls and their surroundings. The findings indicate that empowerment must occur at several levels to create profound change. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dalsgaard, Christina Sidsel LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20191
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Adolescent girls, Menstruation, Reusable pads, Education, Agency, Empowerment, Tanzania
language
English
id
8976115
date added to LUP
2019-10-17 14:08:09
date last changed
2019-10-17 14:08:09
@misc{8976115,
  abstract     = {{In Tanzania, adolescent girls face a number of menstrual challenges that derive from material- and psychosocial deprivations that are being reinforced by menstrual stigmas. To explore how this problem can be addressed, this study had three interlinked areas of focus. Firstly, the study explored the individual and community perceptions of menstruation viewed from female adolescents’ perspectives and further, how these influenced their daily life. Secondly, the study explored how menstrual health challenges affect female adolescents’ sense of agency, and finally, how a menstrual health program influences their sense of empowerment. The research is a qualitative case study, where individual interviews with 15 adolescent girls were conducted. Adding with a new perspective, these girls had three years prior to the data collection participated in a menstrual health program. Firstly, menarche as a transition to womanhood and stigma were by identified as key themes, where stigma, in particular, was found to have adverse implications for girls. Secondly, material- and psychosocial deprivations were found to leave girls in a state of disempowerment, which thirdly, were addressed by a menstrual health program that empowered the girls and their surroundings. The findings indicate that empowerment must occur at several levels to create profound change.}},
  author       = {{Dalsgaard, Christina Sidsel}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{‘There is no shame in it’ - Girls’ Sense of Empowerment Viewed in the Context of Menstrual Health Programs in Tanzania}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}