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Women Day Labourers' Menstrual Health Behavior in the Construction Sites Area of ‘Uposahar’, Sylhet
1  Independent Researcher, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Academic Editor: Pan Wang

Abstract:

The aim of this research is to determine the perceived susceptibility to health risks of women day labourers, understand their perceived severity regarding menstrual health, and assess the coping strategies they use when facing menstrual problems. In construction sites, working women are at high risk of various health concerns due to hazardous working environments. Compared to general occupational risks, female construction workers face additional health and safety difficulties due to inadequate facilities, lack of clean toilets, and the high cost of menstrual products. This research used primary data gathered from informal interviews, in-depth interviews, case studies, a key-informant interview, and group discussions. The Uposhohor B and C block construction sites were selected as the study area. The study population included 55 women workers; among them, 14 in-depth interviews were conducted purposively using a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire. Interviews were carried out face-to-face and audio recorded where possible, and later, the data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis in line with research questions and literature review, where secondary data were collected from related literature, journals, and websites. Before menarche, women construction workers had no information about menstruation, and they had limited knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene; they wore clothes during periods instead of sanitary napkins, which can lead to health problems. Moreover, they often use the same cloth throughout the day during their periods, which increases their susceptibility to illnesses. Menstrual cramps, itching, urinary problems, and skin infections were commonly regarded as normal during menstruation. The majority of the workers are unaware of the importance of hygienic menstrual practices. Additionally, there are many misunderstandings about menstruation among women workers even after menarche. These findings indicate that low perceived susceptibility and low perceived severity of menstrual health problems contribute to unhygienic practices and ineffective coping strategies among women day labourers.

Keywords: women day laborers; menstrual health; perceived susceptibility; perceived severity; menstrual hygiene; construction workers; qualitative study

 
 
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