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Public Health System

School Miles Program - Strengthening Menstrual Health and Hygiene Among Adolescents in Gujarat

Ongoing | March 2026- Present

About

A 12-month pre-post school-based intervention study addressing both the physical and social barriers to menstrual health and hygiene management (MHHM) for adolescent girls in Gujarat.
Schedule
  • Duration: 12 Months
  • Geography: Gujarat
  • Funder: UNIPADS Foundation, Gujarat
  • Partners: KIIT Deemed to be University (KIIT-DU)
  • Delivery Model: Pre-post school-based intervention study
InOrder – The Health Systems Institute, in collaboration with KIIT Deemed to be University, is partnering with the UNIPADS Foundation to implement The School Miles Program in Gujarat. School Miles aims to strengthen menstrual health and hygiene management (MHHM) among school-going adolescent girls through a comprehensive, school-based intervention that integrates menstrual health behaviours and practices directly into the school education system. The programme is designed to address both sides of the equation: the physical barriers (inadequate WASH facilities, lack of menstrual products) and the social barriers (stigma, restrictive norms, limited confidence), to create supportive, inclusive, and MHH-friendly school environments.
The School Miles intervention package brings together six reinforcing components:
  • Menstrual health education for adolescent girls.
  • Sustainable menstrual product distribution through MHH management kits.
  • Gender sensitisation at the school and community level.
  • Parental and teacher engagement to shift household and classroom norms.
  • WASH infrastructure upgrades in selected schools, to meet MHM-friendly standards.
  • Attendance-linked incentives to support sustained school attendance during menstruation. Together, these are designed to ensure dignity, promote participation, and facilitate continued school attendance during menstruation.
  • Conduct a situational analysis of menstrual health and hygiene management among menstruating school-going adolescents in Gujarat.
  • Implement and examine the effectiveness of the School Miles intervention package on the knowledge, awareness, and practices of adolescent girls and key community- and school-level stakeholders.
Phase Focus
Formative Phase Baseline assessment of MHH indicators
Implementation Phase Roll-out of the intervention package: MHH kits, IEC materials, School Miles incentives, WASH infrastructure upgrades, and stakeholder sensitization
End-line Evaluation & Dissemination Post-intervention evaluation of changes in MHH knowledge, attitudes, and practices; dissemination via reports, policy briefs, and stakeholder consultations
Principal Investigator: Prof. (Dr.) Bhuputra Panda, Professor, KIIT Deemed to be University and Senior Advisor, ACCESS Health International
By addressing barriers and fostering supportive learning environments, this project aims to achieve the following outcomes for school-going adolescent girls:
  • Improved knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to menstrual health and hygiene among adolescent girls.
  • Creation of MHH-friendly school environments that address both physical and social barriers.
  • Reports, policy briefs, and stakeholder consultations to inform menstrual health policy and school health systems.