# Access to Menstrual Hygiene & Period Poverty in Rural Punjab A set of Instagram graphics to educate about menstrual hygiene in rural Punjab. January 30, 2025 Lack of resources for healthy and safe menstruation is a significant issue in rural Punjab (a region which spans territories in both India and Pakistan). Period poverty is a direct result of root causes including social stigma, low socioeconomic status, and lack of facilities to wash when menstruating. Over 38% of all menstruating women and girls in rural Punjab, India do not have access to safe, clean menstrual products and resort to using cotton, cloth, leaves, ashes, or other unsafe and unhygienic materials. Furthermore, at least 1 in 5 Punjabi Pakistani schoolgirls miss several days of schooling per month due to a lack of a sufficient cleaning facility on site when they are menstruating, and up to 80% of girls in select rural villages drop out of school at menarche. In addition, lack of adequate menstrual hygiene, which includes bathing daily when menstruating, using sanitary menstrual products, and having regular access to a wash facility, can result in serious health issues. These include urinary tract infections, reproductive tract infections, and other related health issues. ## Artist Simran Kaur (2024) ![Collage of Instagram posts.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10866/files/2025-07/Kaur%2CSimran_ALL_0.png) ## Artist Lens This extended Instagram post is intended for the audience of menstruating people in rural Punjab, as well as the general public. Members of the general public can donate and support non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are advocating and actively working towards ending poor menstrual hygiene and period poverty in Punjab. Since most Punjabi people have access to social media, by viewing this Instagram post, audiences can educate themselves on the issue of poor menstrual hygiene, learn more about their bodies and menstrual health, as well as support organizations that are working against this issue. The extended Instagram post introduces a highly complex issue in a digestible format consisting of visual aids balanced with shorter sections of text. The format is also easily accessible through various social media platforms. The goal of this post is to primarily educate the audiences while generating a call to action, specifically to mitigate social stigma by means of greater understanding and education surrounding the topic of menstrual hygiene. ## Media Digital [Download Access to Menstrual Hygiene & Period Poverty in Rural Punjab PDF](/file_url/947) See also:- [ Sexual & Reproductive Health ](/topics/sexual-reproductive-health) - [ Infographic ](/type/infographic) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)