HERAT CITY (SW) – Health officials in the gynaecological department in Herat have expressed growing concerns over the significant increase in cases of ovarian cysts disease among women and girls in the province.
They attribute this trend to poor hygiene practices during menstruation and a lack of awareness and access to hygiene products especially modesty kits for women.
According to these officials, 75% of patients suffering from ovarian cysts in Herat are women and girls from rural areas. They highlight the refusal to use sanitary pads during menstruation period due to fears of infection as a major contributing factor to the rise in this condition among rural communities.
“In rural areas, they do not use sanitary pads,” said Mansoura Alizada, a doctor in the Injil district of Herat. “Some girls fear that their virginity will be compromised or their uterus will become infected. Out of all the women who have cysts, 75% are from the rural areas.”
Layeqa Rahimi, another doctor in the Injil district, emphasized that economic hardships, lack of awareness about hygiene, and limited access to sanitary pads and other health services are major contributing factors to the rise in ovarian cysts among women and girls in rural areas of Herat.
She urged the Islamic Emirate’s health authorities to prioritize awareness-raising campaigns and improve access to healthcare services.
“In this regard, the government can organize the seminars to raise awareness and allocate a budget to help people, especially girls who suffer the most because they do not have any income in this area, so that girls can use sanitary pads.”
In Herat, some rural women interviewed by Salam Watandar have revealed that the use of sanitary pads during menstruation is prohibited based on their family beliefs. According to them, there is a prevalent belief among villagers in Herat that using sanitary pads can harm women’s uterus, especially girls.
Layla, a resident of the Injil district, said, “For years, neither we nor our daughters have used sanitary pads. People say it can cause problems if used, so we advise our daughters not to use them.”
Maryam, another rural resident in the Injil district, expressed her fear of using sanitary pads, saying, “I have never used them before, I am afraid to use. Here, midwives encourage us to use them, but we are scared and many girls here do not use them. The doctor told me to use them because my uterus is infected. I still have not used them. They are imported from abroad, and we are afraid they might contain something harmful.”
Confirming the increase of ovarian cysts cases among rural women in Herat, health officials in the province say that they are taking steps to control and prevent women-specific diseases through awareness programs in village health centers.
Gholam Mohammad Hanifi, the deputy head of Public Health Directorate in Herat, told Salam Watandar, “We provide health trainings on hygiene, nutrition, and preventive care, as well as vaccination services. In some clinics, there are televisions that broadcast pre-set health messages to educate our sisters and brothers and address health concerns and disease control.”
