Menstrual hygiene in Nepal’s schools: what the studies say
Key takeaways
- Studies in different districts find large shares of girls missing school or lacking safe pads. The figures are not directly comparable.
- Nepal has distributed free pads in community schools since 2019-20, but late and short supply is reported.
- Pads, clean toilets, water and a place to dispose of them all matter. One fix alone is not enough.
- Chhaupadi was made a crime in 2017, yet reports say it continues in some villages.
There is no single number that tells you how many Nepali girls miss school because of their periods. There are many studies, in different places and with different methods. Taken together they tell a consistent story. This article collects what they say, with sources, and points out where the evidence is weak.
What the studies found
These are small, local studies and one survey summary. They do not add up to a national figure.
- Lumbini Province, 2024. A survey cited in a Days for Girls country snapshot found 63 percent of respondents missed at least one day of class during their period, and 6 percent missed three or more. The main causes were a lack of menstrual products and of toilet and disposal facilities.
- Kalikot district. A study of rural adolescent girls found poor menstrual hygiene practice in 86.9 percent of 321 students.
- Bhaktapur. A study of 168 girls in grades 9 and 10 found that 93.5 percent used commercial sanitary pads. The main reasons for absence were discomfort, no continuous water supply and fear of staining.
- WaterAid, 2009. In four schools, girls gave lack of awareness of availability (41 percent) and cost (38 percent) as reasons for not using disposable pads.
Globally, the World Bank estimates that around 500 million women and girls lack adequate menstrual products and facilities.
The free pad scheme
Nepal’s federal policy for 2019-20 introduced free pads for girls in community schools, under the Sanitary Pad (Distribution and Management) Procedure 2019. The Kathmandu Post reported in 2025 that supply is sometimes late or short, and that the oversight committees at federal, provincial, local and school level are often inactive. Many schools still lack adequate toilets and water.
The wider picture
Stigma sits behind the numbers. Chhaupadi, the practice of sending menstruating women to a shed, was made a crime in 2017, with up to three months in jail or a fine of Rs 3,000, or both. Reports continue to describe it in some villages.
What this means for schools
Four things need to be present together.
- Pads, in supply when needed. The scheme and vending machines can work together.
- Private, lockable toilets with water and soap.
- A safe way to dispose of a pad. See disposal options.
- Education that treats menstruation as normal.
Fix only one, and girls still lose school days.
Questions people ask
Do girls in Nepal miss school because of their periods?
Many studies say so, but the shares vary by district and method. A 2024 survey cited by Days for Girls found 63 percent of respondents in Lumbini Province missed at least one day. Treat any single figure with care.
Are sanitary pads free in Nepali schools?
Community schools have been supplied with free pads since 2019-20 under a national procedure. Reports say supply can be late or short, and that oversight committees are often inactive.
Is chhaupadi illegal in Nepal?
Yes. A law that took effect in August 2017 punishes anyone who forces a woman into a menstrual shed with up to three months in jail or a fine of Rs 3,000, or both. Reports say it continues in some areas.
