Kopernik Combats Stigma of Menses

Menstruation is a natural process for nearly all adolescent girls and women around the world. Normally, this process begins around ages 11-14 and happens for 5 days every 28 days until the menopause stage. During menstrual cycles, this process may inflict some side effects including fatigue, headaches, lethargy, and cramps. However, menstruation is a prominent process for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Many hundreds of millions of adolescent girls and women in low and middle-income countries are not well-prepared when menstruation begins. The lack of information, products, health services, infrastructure, policies, social norms, and professionals has created challenges in society. These challenges include misconceptions, stigma, and cultural taboos, which negatively influence their emotional and physical health and rights.

In 2018, UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) stated that adolescent girls and women in Uganda face exclusion from their schools and opportunities. In addition, global studies show a link between menstruation and lost wages*. Women in Nepal have to live isolated from their families during menstrual cycles*. In Indonesia, secrecy and beliefs that menstruation is unclean negatively contribute to Menstrual Health Management (MHM) and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) practices*.

These studies have demonstrated varying beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to menstruation. In 2018, Kopernik conducted research in Manggarai, a remote regency in NTT (East Nusa Tenggara), and found that health workers still play a minor role in helping adolescent girls and women as a source of information for menstrual health issues. Moreover, only 17 percent of women were considered to have a high level of MHM.

Distribution of menstrual products, until most commonly disposable pads, has been one important stage of MHM. Recently, reusable menstrual products are becoming increasingly available in Indonesia. Kopernik found that 50 percent of women in Manggarai were willing to try reusable menstrual products. Through the Perfect Fit project, this organization offered the first reusable pad products in partnership with NGOs and local tailors.

As one of the few Indonesian organizations manufacturing reusable pads, Kopernik is using locally-sourced materials to keep the product at an affordable price for remote communities. Kopernik’s latest reusable pad, made from multi-layer fabrics, is designed to be durable, washable, and comfortable. This product is more environmentally friendly than disposable alternatives. Kopernik also offers two different sizes for daytime (26 x 7 cm) and nighttime (29 x 9 cm).

Kopernik integrated the Perfect Fit project with the existing innovative Wonder Women program, a network of female micro-social entrepreneurs. Marginalized women in Manggarai benefit financially by being involved in the project. This network model is financially sustainable, empowers women, and provides an organic opportunity to act as an entry point for education on MHM and SRHR in their communities.

By developing this project to suit the physical needs as well as the financial budget of females in remote areas, Kopernik has created a product that can be scaled up to other provinces across Indonesia. Also, Kopernik brings producers, sellers, and health authorities together, creating the supportive environment needed to create a sustainable project and make scaling up an option for the future.

What Kopernik is doing in NTT will promote awareness of menstrual health in communities, reduce the stigma and taboo among villagers, and also increase income and empower marginalized women, particularly in remote areas. The role of other NGOs and governments can support Kopernik to scale up this project.

If you want to know more about Kopernik, please check Kopernik’s official website (in Bahasa/English/Japanese) and official Instagram to see their cool stuff and projects.