Menstrual hygiene is an essential dimension of the global development framework to eliminate gender inequities in sanitation and hygiene. In the last decade, formative research on social attitudes around menarche and menstruation has highlighted the existence of deep-seated cultural taboos, beliefs, myths and a general lack of knowledge associated with menstruation in certain developing regions and communities.

This brief presents insights and contributes to evidence around prevailing knowledge, practices and norms associated with menstrual hygiene in India and targeted policy directions that may be needed to shift social norms and practices around menstruation.