Women's Health World Conference 2026

Abstract

Poor menstrual health knowledge, inadequate sanitation, and cultural taboos increase infection risks and healthcare avoidance. In India, reproductive health awareness gaps intersect with rapidly expanding digital infrastructure, creating opportunities to test tech-based solutions for women's health education. We investigated effectiveness of targeted menstrual health education interventions and evaluated potential for digital biomedical technologies to address barriers in semi-rural Indian communities. The Seshadri Lab at Lehigh conducted pre- and post-educational intervention surveys of 83 university students/faculty in semi-rural south India, assessing: 1) menstrual health knowledge gaps, 2) cultural perceptions surrounding menstruation, and 3) behavioral patterns during menstrual cycles. Statistics evaluated significance of changes in knowledge scores, comfort levels, and behavioral intents.

Results revealed contradictions in participant attitudes and behaviors. While 98% recognized menstruation as biological, 73% considered it taboo, and 66% avoided school/social activities during periods. Students reported using shared toilets (28%) and unclean public restrooms (40%) during menstruation. A significant gender divide emerged (90% female respondents; no males attended the course); 67% supported digital health technology solutions for pain monitoring and menstrual health management, citing privacy protection, anonymous education, peer connectivity, and data-driven advocacy potential.

Educational intervention improved health knowledge, increased dialogue on women's health, and reduced activity avoidance during periods. Results indicate targeted education reduces menstrual stigma and that wearable/mobile health technologies could provide culturally sensitive platforms for reproductive health education while overcoming barriers. Future work will translate findings into graphical educational materials and social media content integrated with wearable technology for period tracking, pain management, and health monitoring.