Improving Adolescent Girls’ Well-Being Through Gender-Sensitive Sanitation in Suburban Bangladeshi Schools

Abstract

In Bangladesh’s evolving educational sector, gender-responsive facilities remain notably deficient, especially in suburban schools. This qualitative study investigates the multi-layered challenges faced by adolescent girls due to inadequate gender-sensitive sanitation amenities in suburban educational institutions of Bangladesh. Participants include female students, educators, parents, and representatives from NGOs, thereby offering a comprehensive stakeholder perspective. The research illuminates the intersecting influences of sociocultural norms and infrastructural shortcomings on the education and well-being of adolescent girls. Key findings highlight not only the lack of proper sanitation facilities but also the existing cultural stigmas and gaps in menstrual health awareness, which collectively impact academic performance and psychological health. The study calls for an integrated approach, involving both community education and infrastructural improvement, to create a transformative educational environment that promotes gender equity.