How many girls in Karnali still practice chhaupadi?

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77 Per Cent of Girls in Karnali Province Continue Chhaupadi Practice

A recent study conducted in Nepal's Karnali province has revealed that a significant majority of teenage girls continue to observe the chhaupadi custom, despite legal prohibitions and reported dangers associated with the practice. Researchers interviewed 400 girls aged between 14 and 19 in the mid-Western province, finding that 77 per cent of them still engaged in chhaupadi. This practice, rooted in the belief that menstruating women and girls are impure, forces them to sleep in isolated huts during their periods.
Prevalence of Chhaupadi Despite Legal Ban

Despite chhaupadi being outlawed in 2005, and penalties for its observance introduced only last year following a series of fatalities, the study highlights its continued prevalence. The research, which focused on Karnali province, a region where the practice is particularly widespread, found that nearly eight out of ten girls interviewed were still being banished from their homes during menstruation. Even in more affluent urban households, where the custom is less common, approximately two-thirds of girls reported practicing chhaupadi.
Dangers and Psychological Impact of the Practice

The seclusion imposed by chhaupadi exposes menstruating girls and women to severe risks, including rape, snake bites, and accidental death from fires lit for warmth in poorly constructed huts. Researchers noted that the interviewed girls expressed significant fear of animals and strangers entering their temporary shelters at night. Beyond the immediate physical threats, the study also underscored the substantial psychological stress experienced by these young individuals due to their enforced isolation.
Ongoing Efforts and Challenges in Eradicating the Custom

The study was released shortly after the latest victim succumbed to suffocation in a hut, an incident that led to the first arrest under the new penalties. While legal measures are in place, activists emphasize the need for broader societal change, including extensive awareness campaigns to challenge the deeply ingrained perception of menstruation as a source of impurity. Some communities are exploring innovative approaches, such as offering financial incentives to women who refuse confinement, indicating a gradual shift in attitudes, though changing such long-standing cultural practices remains a complex challenge.

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How many girls in Karnali still practice chhaupadi?

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