JMIR research protocols
Uncovering the Experiences of Basti-Dwelling Adolescent Girls Who Menstruate in Hyderabad, India: Protocol for a Multimethod Critical Qualitative Study
By Velugu S, Di Ruggiero E, Kannuri NK and 1 others.
Abstract
Background
Rapid urbanization in India is straining the government's capacity to provide basic amenities such as housing, sanitation, electricity, and water. One group of people who are deeply affected are adolescent girls who menstruate. In urban slums, referred to as bastis in Telugu and Hindi, this reality is worsened by spatial congestion and limited water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources. This study is situated in the populous slum colonies of Film Nagar, Hyderabad, where residents navigate precarious living conditions and a scarcity of basic amenities.
Objective
In this context, we argue that menstrual experiences are profoundly shaped by an interplay of biological, sociopolitical, and environmental factors. This study aims to examine how these intersecting dimensions shape the menstrual experiences of slum-dwelling adolescent girls (aged 8-18 years) in Film Nagar by understanding the (1) sociocultural and political discourse, (2) intergenerational household power dynamics, and (3) the enabling environment.