Addressing Menstrual Stigma: A Scoping Review on Menstrual Health Interventions in India

(1) Background: Menstruation is subject to stigma worldwide, which has led to restrictive cultural norms and taboos rooted in religion, customs, and patriarchal systems. The resulting ‘cultural stigma’ associated with menstruation exacerbates health inequities, restricts access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHRs), and undermines girls’ and women’s participation in educational, economic, social, and spiritual activities. This scoping review examines interventions to address menstrual stigma experienced by girls and women in India (2) Methods: We used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. After systematic searches on 14 March 2024 across six databases (Academic Search complete, APA PsycInfo, Womens Studies International, Web of Science Core collection, MEDLINE, and Index Medicus-SEAR), we screened 1323 records. (3) Results: Findings from 13 unique study reports reveal diverse approaches to addressing menstrual stigma, including income generation initiatives, sexual education, peer training, technological tools, and arts-based approaches. While the interventions initiated dialogue among girls and women in India, they often lacked broader community engagement, leaving structurally embedded patriarchal norms unchallenged. Additionally, most programs targeted adolescent schoolgirls, with limited attention to waged girls and adult women. (4) Conclusions: Addressing menstrual stigma is critical to advancing gender equality and health equity in India. More research is needed to understand effective ways to galvanize community-wide support in dismantling the deeply rooted patriarchal structures that shape interconnected stigma processes leading to health inequities among girls and women in India.