SRINAGAR: Around 74.4 per cent of women and girls aged 15-24 years in Jammu and Kashmir use hygienic methods of menstrual protection, according to data placed before the Rajya Sabha by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The data, based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), also highlights a significant gap between different social groups in the Union Territory. While 76.1 per cent of Scheduled Caste (SC) women in the 15-24 age group use hygienic menstrual protection methods, the figure drops sharply to 51 per cent among Scheduled Tribe (ST) women.
The information was shared by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha regarding menstrual hygiene indicators among women and girls belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Centre said the National Family Health Survey maintains State and Union Territory-wise data on the use of hygienic methods of menstrual protection among women aged 15-24 years, including separate figures for SC and ST communities. However, data relating to access to clean water, sanitation facilities and other allied indicators is collected by the respective ministries concerned.
According to the reply, the latest NFHS-6 indicates that 79.2 per cent of women aged 15-24 years across the country use hygienic methods of menstrual protection, reflecting an improvement over previous years.
The Ministry said menstrual hygiene management is being strengthened through the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) under the National Health Mission (NHM), which is implemented in coordination with States and Union Territories.
