Is criminalization the answer? Perspectives of community members and police on menstrual seclusion policy in Far-West Nepal
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 16763074 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sara E Baumann (0000-0002-6544-2825, University of Pittsburgh, corresponding author), Monica Merante (University of Pittsburgh), Monica M Merante (University of Pittsburgh), Christopher T Wiltrout (University of Pittsburgh), Christopher Wiltrout (University of Pittsburgh), Trevor Cutlip (University of Pittsburgh), Müge Finkel (University of Pittsburgh), Bipu Maharjan (NFCC, Kathmandu, Nepal), Pema Lhaki (NFCC, Kathmandu, Nepal), Jessica G Burke (0000-0002-0439-7653, University of Pittsburgh) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pages | 1003-1012 |
| Publication date | 2021-08-12 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Policy and Planning (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0268-1080 • E-ISSN: 1460-2237 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/heapol/czab032 |
| PMID | 34051090 |
| OpenAlex | W3164878454 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 11 |
Chhaupadi is a form of menstrual seclusion practiced in Nepal in which women and girls are isolated during their menstrual cycles and follow numerous restrictions. The tradition dates back centuries and can have serious physical and mental health consequences. While the practice was criminalized in 2017 with fines and jail time, this legislative action comes after more than a decade of legal history, from an initial ban in 2006, to declaring it a form of violence against women in 2009, and finally, its criminalization in 2017. Exploring levels of awareness regarding the 2017 chhaupadi criminalization, perceptions of the legal penalties, and whether or not criminalization will lead to behaviour change are imperative next steps for informing the development of evidence-based interventions targeting chhaupadi. In this qualitative investigation conducted in Kalikot district, six focus group discussions and 33 in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 81 participants. School-going girls, girls who have dropped out of school before completing twelfth grade, mothers, fathers, teachers, health care providers, religious leaders, traditional healers, grandmothers and police participated in the study. The results indicate that criminalization is generally perceived as a positive step for initiating chhaupadi behaviour change, and one-third of participants expressed that they plan to change their behaviours after learning that chhaupadi is publishable with fines and/or jail time. However, accurate information about the criminal code is extremely low and therefore interventions ensuring communities and law enforcement are informed of the criminalization and associated penalties are urgently needed. In addition, even after its criminalization, chhaupadi behaviour change is anticipated to be gradual and is expected to require long-term interventions targeting social pressure associated with upholding the tradition and raising awareness via appropriate trainings, engaging the media, and beyond
Criminalization · Criminology · Focus group · Legislature · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Punitive damages · Seclusion · Sociology · Law · Medicine · Menstrual Health and Disorders · Psychology
Menstrual Exclusions in Nepal
Cultural norms and women’s health
Women’s extreme seclusion during menstruation and children’s health in Nepal
Spatial heterogeneity of menstrual discriminatory practices against Nepalese women
From stigma to solutions
The effect of traditional menstrual practices on violence against women
| Citations per year | 1.2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2025 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |