Without access to health education, rural women and girls of Nepal are subject to harmful practices surrounding menstruation and reproduction. Aythos is changing the way people think about old myths about women's health by giving communities training on health, hygiene, and reusable pad-making.
Myths and unhygienic practices surrounding menstruation and childbirth continue to dominate rural areas of Nepal. Restrictive beliefs leave women unable to cook or eat with their families during menstruation, sometimes being forced to sleep or give birth in animal sheds or menstruation huts. Lack of reproductive and hygiene knowledge leaves women with increasing yeast infections, urinary tract infections and unexpected pregnancies.
Aythos will hold training in overall health, hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition to overcome myths, improve health, and help women and girls gain self-confidence and power in their communities. Aythos trained hundreds of women and girls during our pilot programs in 2018. We found simple explanations of health information and the ability to ask questions being a powerful weapon against harmful myths and towards improved health outcomes.
This project will improve perceptions and beliefs about women's health and increase the quality of women and girls' lives.
