Policy to practice: insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, India
Abstract Background Recognizing the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, governments worldwide, including India, are working towards improving awareness, infrastructure and access to essential products and services. Odisha’s state-led “Khushi” programme, launched in 2018, is one such initiati...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01316-w |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849388842251976704 |
|---|---|
| author | Shyama Desaraju Nishisipa Panda Rudra Prasad Panigrahy Bhuputra Panda |
| author_facet | Shyama Desaraju Nishisipa Panda Rudra Prasad Panigrahy Bhuputra Panda |
| author_sort | Shyama Desaraju |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Recognizing the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, governments worldwide, including India, are working towards improving awareness, infrastructure and access to essential products and services. Odisha’s state-led “Khushi” programme, launched in 2018, is one such initiative providing free sanitary napkins to schoolgirls in government and government-aided schools to improve menstrual hygiene and reduce dropouts. Our study aims to explore the perspectives and barriers in the implementation of the Khushi programme in Odisha. Methodology This paper emanates from a larger study on menstrual health in Odisha, conducted from September 2021 to December 2022, focussing on qualitative insights into the implementation challenges of the Khushi programme. It examines stakeholder perspectives through in-depth interviews with key officials from health and education departments and focus group discussions with schoolgirls. In addition, relevant programme documents and government policies were reviewed. Results Our study findings related to the systemic bottlenecks in the implementation of the Khushi programme have been summarized under key thematic domains: (1) approach to micro-planning; (2) interdepartmental convergence; (3) indenting and supply chain; (4) capacity building; and (5) monitoring and supervision. This study underscores the importance of designing and implementing a comprehensive behaviour-change strategy that should capitalize on the existing collaboration between the health and education departments, while addressing identified weaknesses. Conclusions The Khushi programme has the potential to bring about a paradigm shift in menstrual health behaviour among schoolgirls. To maximize its impact, the government may adopt a comprehensive strategy, including strengthening menstrual-hygiene-compliant school infrastructure, providing education and sensitization for both implementers and beneficiaries, and integrating environment-friendly menstrual hygiene products in the programme. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-06f27a003a0d4bb09a9ceeb53f7bf539 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1478-4505 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-06f27a003a0d4bb09a9ceeb53f7bf5392025-08-20T03:42:09ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052025-07-0123111010.1186/s12961-025-01316-wPolicy to practice: insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, IndiaShyama Desaraju0Nishisipa Panda1Rudra Prasad Panigrahy2Bhuputra Panda3PHFI-Indian Institute of Public HealthPHFI-Indian Institute of Public HealthPHFI-Indian Institute of Public HealthPHFI-Indian Institute of Public HealthAbstract Background Recognizing the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, governments worldwide, including India, are working towards improving awareness, infrastructure and access to essential products and services. Odisha’s state-led “Khushi” programme, launched in 2018, is one such initiative providing free sanitary napkins to schoolgirls in government and government-aided schools to improve menstrual hygiene and reduce dropouts. Our study aims to explore the perspectives and barriers in the implementation of the Khushi programme in Odisha. Methodology This paper emanates from a larger study on menstrual health in Odisha, conducted from September 2021 to December 2022, focussing on qualitative insights into the implementation challenges of the Khushi programme. It examines stakeholder perspectives through in-depth interviews with key officials from health and education departments and focus group discussions with schoolgirls. In addition, relevant programme documents and government policies were reviewed. Results Our study findings related to the systemic bottlenecks in the implementation of the Khushi programme have been summarized under key thematic domains: (1) approach to micro-planning; (2) interdepartmental convergence; (3) indenting and supply chain; (4) capacity building; and (5) monitoring and supervision. This study underscores the importance of designing and implementing a comprehensive behaviour-change strategy that should capitalize on the existing collaboration between the health and education departments, while addressing identified weaknesses. Conclusions The Khushi programme has the potential to bring about a paradigm shift in menstrual health behaviour among schoolgirls. To maximize its impact, the government may adopt a comprehensive strategy, including strengthening menstrual-hygiene-compliant school infrastructure, providing education and sensitization for both implementers and beneficiaries, and integrating environment-friendly menstrual hygiene products in the programme.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01316-wAdolescent healthMenstrual healthFree sanitary napkinSchool healthOdisha |
| spellingShingle | Shyama Desaraju Nishisipa Panda Rudra Prasad Panigrahy Bhuputra Panda Policy to practice: insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, India Health Research Policy and Systems Adolescent health Menstrual health Free sanitary napkin School health Odisha |
| title | Policy to practice: insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, India |
| title_full | Policy to practice: insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, India |
| title_fullStr | Policy to practice: insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Policy to practice: insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, India |
| title_short | Policy to practice: insights from implementation of a school-based sanitary napkin distribution programme in Odisha, India |
| title_sort | policy to practice insights from implementation of a school based sanitary napkin distribution programme in odisha india |
| topic | Adolescent health Menstrual health Free sanitary napkin School health Odisha |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01316-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shyamadesaraju policytopracticeinsightsfromimplementationofaschoolbasedsanitarynapkindistributionprogrammeinodishaindia AT nishisipapanda policytopracticeinsightsfromimplementationofaschoolbasedsanitarynapkindistributionprogrammeinodishaindia AT rudraprasadpanigrahy policytopracticeinsightsfromimplementationofaschoolbasedsanitarynapkindistributionprogrammeinodishaindia AT bhuputrapanda policytopracticeinsightsfromimplementationofaschoolbasedsanitarynapkindistributionprogrammeinodishaindia |