Supriya Sadagopan, ‘Barriers to Girls’ Education and the Role of Menstruation in Nepal’

A myriad of barriers affect the educational progress of young girls in rural Nepal, but a need exists for more evidence-based research. Obstacles include: early marriage, household labor, access to education resource, and menstruation. Menstruation is both rarely discussed and deeply stigmatized, limiting the quality of life for young women. Considered to be “impure,” girls are often physically isolated and face multiple restrictions that in turn affect their school attendance.

Supriya Sadagopan is an MPH candidate in Health Behavior at UNC-Chapel Hill.