UQ students empower young women in Nepal to take charge of their menstrual health

In Nepal many areas still practice Chhaupadi, an ancient, cultural practice where women are considered untouchable for the duration of their menstrual period.

The practice is rooted in religious norms that consider menstruating women impure, so they are banished to mud huts or sheds. It is enforced through an environment of fear by telling women they could bring bad luck or ill health to their families.

Even though it is illegal, 70 to 80 percent of women in Western Nepal are still forced to practice Chhaupadi.

Because of this, menstrual education is classed as a national priority in the country.

Armed with almost 200 kilograms of medical and hygiene products, nine nursing and midwifery students from The University of Queensland travelled to Nepal to provide menstrual hygiene education to local schools.

As part of their placement, the students ran educational sessions with girls in grades 6-12 discussing different products and how to manage their period safely and effectively.

The sessions were so successful that students from the school have replicated the program and started presenting it to other schools in the district.

UQ Nursing and Midwifery students leaving for Nepal

Student Zoe Hamilton said it was humbling to see the impact the classes had on the local community.

“We were blown away by the enthusiasm and positive reception we had from students,” Ms Hamilton said.

“We made menstrual hygiene packs in Australia to give to the students during the classes, and it was awesome to see how excited they were to receive them.

UQ students Maeve Brewer and Lucy Chick teaching Nepalese school girls about menstruation health and hygiene

“Promotion of good menstrual hygiene management is fundamental to empowering women, girls, and other menstruators.

“It protects dignity, supports independence, challenges menstrual taboos, and strengthens sexual and reproductive health.

“I am passionate about ending period poverty. No menstruator should ever be in the position where they cannot afford the period products that they need to manage their menstruation safely and effectively.”

Nine students and Clinical Lecturer Alison Bourke standing in two rows smiling for a photo. They are holding A4 signs with the Australian and Nepalese flags as well as writing which says ‘Nepal’, ‘We fly singapore airlines’, ‘New Colombo Plan’ and The University of Queensland.

UQ Nursing and Midwifery students leaving for Nepal

Two UQ students sitting around a large wooden table with 11 Nepalese schoolgirls as they have a conversation.

UQ students Maeve Brewer and Lucy Chick teaching Nepalese school girls about menstruation health and hygiene

A box with small cloth bundles in assorted colours which hold menstrual hygiene products

Menstrual hygiene kits packed by UQ students

UQ students with Nepalese school girls sitting at a wooden table. There is a pair of women's underwear on the table next to a poster about menstrual health

UQ students Amy Swemmer and Adi Cosijn running menstrual education classes with school girls

Five UQ students around a table with cardboard boxes filled with menstrual hygiene products. They are smiling at the camera as they pack

UQ student packing menstrual hygiene kits before heading on placement in Nepal.

Posters and books about menstrual health on a wooden table. UQ students and Nepalese school girls are sitting around them with one pointing to a picture of a female

Menstrual education session run by UQ students

UQ students sitting on chairs while a class of Nepalese schoolgirls stand behind them for a group photo.

UQ students group photo with class of schoolgirls in Nepal

For student Lucy Chick, the decision to go on the international placement was specifically because of the opportunity to run the menstrual education classes.

“As a mother of both an adult and teenage daughter I have made sure that they have all the information they can have about their bodies, and I want all girls to have the same privilege,” Ms Chick said.

Menstrual education session with girls in Nepal led by UQ students

“In numerous countries this subject is often taboo, and I wanted to pass on what knowledge I could to these girls to do my small part in trying to reverse misconceptions.

“One of my favourite moments from the placement was when the girls first found out what the topic was that we were there to discuss with them- their eyes lit up.

“I loved how eager they were to share personal experiences, talk openly and engage in the discussions.”

Close up image of Love Luna period brief products on a wooden table as UQ students talk with Nepal students in the background.

Menstrual education session with girls in Nepal led by UQ students

Nine UQ students standing in front of Madhyapur Hospital sign. They are all wearing purple UQ branded polo shirts or scrubs.

UQ nursing and midwifery students at Madhyapur Hospital

Three UQ students wash laundry using a single tap off the wall and tubs. Two are rinsing their clothes while smiling at the camera, the other is sitting on the floor doing the 'peace sign' with her hands while smiling.

UQ students Alicia Barron, Nikita Bailey Young and Amy Swemmer washing laundry in Nepal

UQ student Pheobe Harrison talking with a young local child on streets of Nepal. The UQ student has red/blonde hair and is wearing a white t-shirt with sunglasses on top of her head. She is holding stickers as she talks to the child who is wearing a red shirt with white stripes.

UQ student Pheobe Harrison talking with young local child on street of Nepal

Four young Nepalese girls washing their hands at an outdoor sink at their school. they are wearing uniforms with blue long sleeve shirts, grey pleated skirts, long grey socks with black shoes and blue ribbons in their hair.

Nepalese schoolgirls teaching each other hand washing techniques after a class with the UQ students.

UQ students stand in two rows for a group photo in casual clothing. They are with their facilitator Alison Bourke and a local man.

Group photos of the UQ nursing and midwifery students

Nine UQ students stand in a line for a group photo. They are all wearing purple UQ scrub tops and red/white check pattern

UQ students in front of Nepal Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital

While in Nepal the students also had the valuable opportunity to undertake placement in local hospitals.

Student Natalia Bonuccelli Filoni said it was exciting to practice the skills they had learnt during their course in a unique setting.

“After the International Placement I was more aware of who I am, and am a lot more resilient,” Ms Bounccelli Filoni said.

UQ student Maeve Brewer holding newborn baby while on placement

“Practicing my nursing skills, listening to my facilitators and the joy that I felt while there showed I will be a good nurse and that I can confidently pursue my dream of working with humanitarian organisations.

“I could spend hours talking about the special moments from placement.

UQ students Maeve Brewer and Amy Swemmer with Nepal hospital staff

“From working a shift in the emergency department of a local hospital where I felt so comfortable practicing my skills, to the strong bond I developed with the other nursing students that went to Nepal.

“But the most special moment was seeing our facilitators Alison and Kelly practicing as nurses and taking care of us when we got sick.

“They are inspirations to the nurse I want to be in the future.”

UQ student Maeve Brewer in scrubs and mask as she holds a newborn baby in hospital

UQ student Maeve Brewer holding newborn baby while on placement

Two UQ students with three Nepal hospital staff smiling to the camera in a selfie position. The UQ students are wearing purple UQ branded scrubs and the Nepal nurses are wearing blue scrubs.

UQ students Maeve Brewer and Amy Swemmer with Nepal hospital staff

Associate Lecturer Kelly Hooper and Clinical Associate Lecturer Alison Bourke from UQ’s School of Nursing Midwifery and Social Work said they are proud of the students as they have transferred knowledge and enabled the community to build their own capacity to educate their own.

“I do not think we could have ever imagined how the menstrual hygiene sessions would inspire such an amazing response from the girls at the school,” Mrs Hooper said.

“While this is not an easy placement to undertake, it is a placement where students will learn so much about the profession, themselves and another culture.

“And overall, it helps to make them a better nurse.”

Mrs Bourke said the upcoming generation of nursing students are inspiring.

“I find this generation of young nurses enthusiastic about learning and experiencing different cultures,” Mrs Bourke said.

“The students learnt how to nurse and get good results with less - less equipment, less range of medications, less running water and even less hygiene.

“This is a placement where students will learn about global health, health promotion, themselves, and make friends for life.”

The placement is part of the New Colombo Plan Mobility program, a federal government initiative supporting students to study in 40 locations across the Indo-Pacific from South Asia in the west to Mongolia in the north, and the Cook Islands in the east.