Menstrual hygiene and RANAS Behavioural Model (Bangladesh)

This study investigated status of menstrual hygiene management at Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar along with the impacts of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) infrastructure, and challenges interfering the behavioural change of adolescent girls and women. The study used the Risks, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, and Self-regulation (RANAS) model, effective for creating and analysing women behaviour modification plans. This cross- sectional mix method study was conducted for 10 months among Rohingya adolescent and women in camp-15 and camp-16 located at Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. To explore the productive key findings of the research, both qualitative and quantitative data was collected simultaneously among the MHM group including Rohingya adolescent girls and women, block leaders, INGOs, and humanitarian workers from various sectors. The findings depict that the impact of MHM facilities on the behavioural change of adolescent girls and women of camp 15 was positive considering risk factors and self-regulation factors compared with camp 16 while the impact on attitude factor, ability factor and norm factor of the two camps were nearly similar. Alongside, inadequate access to MHM facilities and poor management of menstrual products hampered consistency of behavioural change of Rohingya girls and women. In fine, unimproved condition of MHM infrastructure resulted in weak behavioural influence. Factors affecting health hygiene risk and MHM practice are linked with inadequate access and overpricing of MHM materials. Secured and easily accessible MHM facilities and affordable menstrual products are of prime need to ensure proper menstrual hygiene management.