Madridge Journal of Nursing

ISSN: 2638-1605

2nd International Nursing Conference
November 1-3, 2017 Barcelona, Spain

Ahhaupadi: A Menstrual Taboo in Far Western Nepal

Yasoda Gautam

NPI-NSH College of Nursing and Health Science, India

DOI: 10.18689/2638-1605.a2.005

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Chhaupadi is a practice where girls/women are not allowed to enter inside the house, touch water and milk for 4 to 7 days during their menstruation period. They must stay in a hut outside, identified as a Chhaupadi house. A mixed method study (QUAN+qual), was conducted to find out the practice of school going female adolescents regarding chhaupadi practice in Doti District of Farwestern region of Nepal. It was found that Practice of chhaupadi ritual was significantly associated with ethnicity (OR: 54.667 95% CI, 5.990-498.909), education of father (OR: 8.743 95% CI, 1.140-67.076), education of mother (OR: 8.069 95% CI, 1.814-35.892), occupation of father (OR: 3.337 95% CI, 1.262-8.823) and family Income (OR: 4.085 95%CI, 1.576-10.589). The findings also revealed that chhaupadi ritual has been practiced by in spite of the fact that it has serious effect in the health of the female. Also, it has threatened the security of the women, sometimes resulting brutal consequences like rape and death of the women. The study concluded that beside all other factors responsible for continuation of chhaupadi ritual, there is a strong superstitious belief that various miss happenings will occur due to violation of chhaupadi ritual. Therefore, it is necessary to increase awareness by lunching awareness programs and should be emphasized in school curriculum as well.

Biography:
Yasoda Gautam is working in the post of lecturer in NPI-NSH college of nursing, Bharatpur, Chitwan Nepal. She has completed a master degree in nursing (Women health and development) from Institute of medicine, Maharajgunj Nursing campus. She is currently involved in teaching Midwifery and leadership and management for Bachelor level nursing students in NPI-NSH college of nursing. She has work experience of 12 years in the nursing profession.