A visual, community-engaged exploration of menstrual practices and motivations among adolescent girls in far-west NepalBaumann, Sara (2019) A visual, community-engaged exploration of menstrual practices and motivations among adolescent girls in far-west Nepal. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)
AbstractMenstrual health, a growing global public health issue, is the study of social, political, structural, educational and environmental factors that affect experiences of menstruation and impact health. Challenges associated with menstruation include the lack of access to materials and sanitation facilities, low knowledge about menstruation, and taboos and stigma that perpetuate unsafe practices. In Nepal, menstrual restrictions are widespread, putting menstruators at risk for poor health outcomes. Menstrual health research and interventions in Nepal must thoughtfully examine practices and beliefs, and propose solutions considering social values and the health and development context. Arts-based methods and community-engaged approaches are particularly appropriate for investigating sensitive topics such as menstrual health. This dissertation first analyzes studies that have applied film methods in public health research. It then introduces a novel, visual, community-engaged research method called Collaborative Filmmaking. Finally, it presents the results from applying Collaborative Filmmaking to study menstruation in Nepal. Results from the scoping review identified 15 film methods used in public health, which offer numerous methodological strengths such as providing rich descriptions, capturing emic perspectives, increasing comfort in participation, and empowering participants. Collaborative Filmmaking is a six-step method that builds upon these strengths. Adopting a community-engaged approach, participants of Collaborative Filmmaking are trained to create, analyze, and screen their own films in the community. Piloting Collaborative Filmmaking in far-west Nepal provided nuanced, sensory insight into menstrual practices and motivations among adolescent girls. An array of menstrual practices related to cleansing, cooking, eating and drinking, touching, worshipping, sleeping, and maintaining physical distance were uncovered. The practices fell along a continuum and varied by caste/ethnic and religious background. Motivations for following menstrual practices included religious and spiritual beliefs, family tradition, negative consequences, and social pressure. This dissertation contributes to both visual methods and menstrual health scholarship. Collaborative Filmmaking is an effective method for engaging participants in exploring a sensitive topic, generating nuanced data, and is powerful for disseminating results. In terms of menstrual health, this dissertation extends the literature by describing key differences in menstrual practices among girls from different caste/ethnic and religious groups in Nepal for consideration in future interventions and polices. Share
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