Menstruation around the world is a phenomenon that is considered taboo due to a lack of proper awareness and education. However, for a better insight of issues related to menstrual health and hygiene, health approaches involving people’s participation are necessary. In this scoping review paper, the researchers will highlight the importance of one such technique that focuses on bringing social and behavioural change to the community, making it a people-centric participatory approach, known as “Positive Deviance” (PD). Positive Deviance is a concept implemented in issues concerning development communication as well as Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC). Since health promotion focuses on inspiring people and the community to adopt healthy behaviour and positively influence health behaviour, implementing positive deviance can be an appropriate approach to promote positive health practices. This scoping review was conducted using PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review).  In order to review the literature on menstrual health and hygiene as well as positive deviance in health-related contexts, a total of 15 peer-reviewed studies were found, mapped, and synthesized. This paper defines how PD has been a successful ground-level approach in health studies. The paper also highlights that PD can be applicable and beneficial for studies and research on menstrual health and hygiene. Based on the papers that are reviewed, it appears that different communities are conducting research on menstrual health and hygiene issues, and a variety of additional ways are being employed. PD is showcased as an emerging concept in health promotional studies and how it can help in promoting sensitive issues such as Menstrual Health and Hygiene or fight taboos against sensitive issues related to the same in India.

Keywords – Positive Deviance, Menstrual Health and Hygiene, Health Promotion, Behaviour Change.

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