Menstruation in Nagamese called as Let-nyaipu in which 'Let' means 'month' and 'nyaipu' means 'coming out' or 'flow', is a normal biological process and an important indicator of women's reproductive health. However, it is viewed differently in every society, where it may be enshrouded in secrecy, taboos, and stigma. Several studies show that socially disadvantaged groups especially tribal communities located in remote areas have less awareness and hygienic menstrual practices due to inaccessibility of proper health services. A cross-sectional study using mix-method was carried out on Konyak Nagas women in the selected villages of Mon district of Nagaland to understand Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) related to menstrual health and hygiene. From a sample of 160 Konyak Naga women, socio-demographic and anthropometric measurements (height, weight, hip, and waist circumference) was collected to explore their views on menstrual health, hygiene practices, menstrual problems, treatment seeking behaviour and cultural beliefs. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the relationship among these variables. Determinants of menstrual health and hygiene were accessed using logistic regression. In addition, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to understand the different local social beliefs, cultural taboos and myths associated with menstruation. The findings revealed that maintaining menstrual health and hygiene is a strenuous challenge in remote areas like Mon, Nagaland, where affordability and availability of menstrual health care products are limited, and patriarchal mindsets and associated taboos hinder progress. Moreover, despite government schemes and initiatives, there is a significant gap between knowledge and practice among females regarding their menstrual health due to lack of awareness and accessibility of affordable menstrual health care products. As a result, menstrual health and hygiene remain a distant dream for tribal women in Mon.
