Traditional Beliefs and Practices related to Menstrual Health and Hygiene among Two Generations: First Year Students and Female Workers at Ahfad University for Women, Sudan
This qualitative study of first-year students and female workers at Ahfad University for Women in Sudan reveals that despite generational differences in openness, both groups continue to face menstrual stigma and harmful traditional practices driven by socio-cultural constraints, highlighting the urgent need for culturally responsive, community-based interventions to improve menstrual health and hygiene.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
For billions of people, the monthly arrival of menstruation is a natural biological rhythm, yet in many parts of the world, it is treated as a source of shame, a secret to be kept, or a sign of impurity. This tension between biology and culture creates a difficult reality for women and girls. When societies view menstruation as something dirty or forbidden, it leads to harmful practices: girls might be barred from cooking or praying, they might avoid washing to prevent "bad luck," or they might suffer in silence because they cannot ask for help. These restrictions do more than just limit movement; they can damage physical health and mental well-being. Understanding how these deep-seated beliefs shape daily life is essential for improving the lives of women everywhere.
In Sudan, a researcher set out to explore exactly how these traditions play out in the lives of women today. They focused their study at Ahfad University for Women in Khartoum, a historic institution that has educated women since 1966. The researcher wanted to see if the way women manage their periods has changed over time. To do this, they spoke with two distinct groups of women: young first-year students, mostly between the ages of 17 and 19, and older female staff members, ranging from 40 to 60 years old. By comparing these two generations, the researcher hoped to uncover whether modern education and exposure to new ideas are helping to break down old taboos, or if ancient rules still hold strong.
The researcher conducted in-depth, private conversations with 18 women in total. They asked open-ended questions about what the women knew regarding their cycles, how they managed their hygiene, what pain relief methods they used, and what restrictions they felt they had to follow. The interviews were recorded and analyzed to find common themes in how these women experienced their monthly cycles. The goal was not just to count how many women used certain products, but to understand the feelings and beliefs that drive their choices.
What the researcher found was a story of two worlds living side by side. The younger women, the university students, showed a marked increase in openness. They were more willing to talk about their periods, often citing school lessons and social media as sources of information. They felt more confident discussing their needs with friends and even expressed a desire for men in their lives—fathers, brothers, and husbands—to understand and support them. However, this new confidence did not completely erase the old rules. Despite being more educated and vocal, many of the young women still followed strict traditions regarding what they could eat, where they could go, and how they should behave during their periods. They often practiced these restrictions without knowing the original reasons behind them, simply because it was what had always been done.
The older generation, the university staff, carried the weight of these traditions more heavily. For them, menstruation was often linked to deep feelings of shame and impurity. Many described a life where they were expected to isolate themselves, avoid cooking, and keep their menstrual status a secret from men. They relied on reusable cloth and cotton for hygiene, often washing and reusing these materials due to cost or a lack of access to modern products. Some older women attributed severe pain to past practices like female genital mutilation, a connection that the researcher noted deserves more attention. While they recognized that their daughters and students might have different experiences, the older women still viewed the menstrual cycle through a lens of caution and silence.
A striking pattern emerged across both groups: the belief that a menstruating woman is "dirty" or "unclean." This idea, though rarely stated as a direct rule in modern terms, influenced behavior in subtle but powerful ways. Women wore dark clothing to hide stains, avoided washing their hair due to fears of bodily imbalances or because they viewed bathing restrictions as divinely ordained, and kept their menstrual supplies hidden. Even the younger women, who had access to modern sanitary pads, sometimes reverted to using cloth because they feared the pads might cause infections or allergies. The choice of product was not just about comfort or cost; it was deeply tied to cultural fears and a lack of trust in new methods.
The physical toll of these beliefs was also clear. Many women reported severe pain, including backaches, cramps, and headaches. To manage this pain, they turned to home remedies like drinking mint or cinnamon tea, applying heat from a fire, or taking painkillers. Very few sought medical help, partly because they viewed menstrual pain as a normal part of life that must be endured, and partly because of the stigma surrounding the topic. The researcher noted that for women who had undergone female genital mutilation, the pain was often described as far more intense, yet this specific link remained a quiet, unspoken burden.
Perhaps the most hopeful finding was the universal agreement that men need to be part of the solution. Every woman interviewed, from the youngest student to the oldest staff member, stated that fathers, brothers, and husbands should understand menstruation. They believed that if men were informed and supportive, the shame and secrecy surrounding the topic would begin to fade. The women emphasized that the current silence hurts everyone, and that breaking the barrier between generations and between genders is the first step toward change.
The study concludes that while the younger generation in Sudan is beginning to speak more openly about menstruation, the deep roots of tradition remain unshaken. Education and social media have opened a door for conversation, but they have not yet removed the heavy doors of restriction that still stand in the way. The researcher suggests that real progress will not come from simply providing better products, but from bringing women of different ages together to question these old rules and build new norms. Until the silence is broken and the shame is unlearned, the cycle of restriction will continue, regardless of how much knowledge is gained.
Drowning in papers in your field?
Get daily digests of the most novel papers matching your research keywords — with technical summaries, in your language.