Menstrual health and rights are increasingly recognised as not solely women's issues, yet in patriarchal settings, boys and men remain excluded from menstruation-related matters. Evidence on their supportive roles, particularly in resource-poor settings, remains limited. We examined the support provided by boys and young men to mothers and sisters during menstruation in a disadvantaged urban context in India and identifed factors associated with supportiveness. Data came from a menstrual health management study in the slums of Mumbai. Analysis was based on quantitative data from 447 unmarried boys and young men aged 15-24 years that assessed menstruation-related knowledge, adherence to traditional norms, agency in everyday life, and supportive behaviours. In-depth interviews with 20 parents provided context relating to family interaction. Overall, 56% of respondents supported their mothers or sisters by performing household chores, bringing food or medicines, or purchasing menstrual products. Greater awareness was associated with increased odds of support (AOR: 1.34), as were rejecting menstrual impurity norms (AOR: 2.02) and more modestly, displaying agency (AOR: 1.33). Findings underscore the need for comprehensive sexuality education for boys that builds awareness, challenges prevailing norms and stigma, and promotes supportive practices.
Majumdar et al. (Mon,) studied this question.