Attention to menstrual hygiene management in schools: An analysis of education policy documents in low- and middle-income countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marni Sommer ◽  
Chantal Figueroa ◽  
Christina Kwauk ◽  
Meredith Jones ◽  
Nora Fyles
Keyword(s):  
Education Policy ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Menstrual Hygiene Management and Waste Disposal in Low and Middle Income Countries—A Review of the Literature

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 2562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myles Elledge ◽  
Arundati Muralidharan ◽  
Alison Parker ◽  
Kristin Ravndal ◽  
Mariam Siddiqui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
Sanitation Systems ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) has gained some attention and several literature reviews have been published. However, both original papers and reviews tend to focus on absorbent access and use and not on the disposal of menstrual waste. This review aims to fill a gap in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector by bringing a focus specifically on menstrual hygiene safe disposal in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). We reviewed published literature since 2002 on menstrual hygiene with a focus on menstrual waste management and menstrual absorbent disposal in LMIC. Database searches were conducted of both peer reviewed literature and grey literature, in addition to hand searching of references of relevant earlier literature reviews. In total 152 articles and reports were identified and 75 met the inclusion criteria and was included in the final review. Existing polices on MHM was also reviewed with a focus on India and South Africa. The review showed that disposal of menstrual waste is often neglected MHM and sanitation value chains, leading to improper disposal and negative impacts on users, the sanitation systems and the environment. Findings call for further research to gain better understandings of MHM waste streams, disposal behaviors, absorbent materials and waste management technologies to deliver health, safety, mobility and dignity for women and girls.

scholarly journals Menstrual hygiene management among adolescent schoolgirls in low- and middle-income countries: research priorities

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope A. Phillips-Howard ◽  
Bethany Caruso ◽  
Belen Torondel ◽  
Garazi Zulaika ◽  
Murat Sahin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Priorities ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Understanding Period Poverty: Socio-Economic Inequalities in Menstrual Hygiene Management in Eight Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2571
Author(s):  
Laura Rossouw ◽  
Hana Ross
Keyword(s):  
Decomposition Methods ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Sanitary Pads ◽  
Unequal Access

Menstrual hygiene management and health is increasingly gaining policy importance in a bid to promote dignity, gender equality and reproductive health. Effective and adequate menstrual hygiene management requires women and girls to have access to their menstrual health materials and products of choice, but also extends into having private, clean and safe spaces for using these materials. The paper provides empirical evidence of the inequality in menstrual hygiene management in Kinshasa (DRC), Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rajasthan (India), Indonesia, Nigeria and Uganda using concentration indices and decomposition methods. There is consistent evidence of wealth-related inequality in the conditions of menstrual hygiene management spaces as well as access to sanitary pads across all countries. Wealth, education, the rural-urban divide and infrastructural limitations of the household are major contributors to these inequalities. While wealth is identified as one of the key drivers of unequal access to menstrual hygiene management, other socio-economic, environmental and household factors require urgent policy attention. This specifically includes the lack of safe MHM spaces which threaten the health and dignity of women and girls.

scholarly journals Piloting an acceptable and feasible menstrual hygiene products disposal system in urban and rural schools in Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farjana Jahan ◽  
Md. Nuruzzaman ◽  
Farhana Sultana ◽  
Mehjabin Tishan Mahfuz ◽  
Mahbubur Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Schools ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Disposal Options ◽  
Menstrual Products

Abstract Background Access to washroom facilities and a place to dispose of menstrual waste are prerequisites for optimal menstrual hygiene management in schools. Like other low- and middle-income countries, Bangladeshi schools lack facilities for girls to change and dispose of their menstrual absorbents. We explored existing systems for disposing of menstrual absorbent wastes in urban and rural schools of Bangladesh and assessed the feasibility and acceptability of alternative disposal options. Methods We explored how girls dispose of their menstrual products, identified girls’ preferences and choices for a disposal system and piloted four disposal options in four different schools. We then implemented one preferred option in four additional schools. We explored girls’, teachers’, and janitors’ perspectives and evaluated the acceptability, feasibility, and potential for sustainability of the piloted disposal system. Results Barriers to optimal menstrual hygiene management included lack of functional toilets and private locations for changing menstrual products, and limited options for disposal. Girls, teachers, and janitors preferred and ranked the chute disposal system as their first choice, because it has large capacity (765 L), is relatively durable, requires less maintenance, and will take longer time to fill. During implementation of the chute disposal system in four schools, girls, teachers, and janitors reported positive changes in toilet cleanliness and menstrual products disposal resulting from the intervention. Conclusions The chute disposal system for menstrual products is a durable option that does not require frequent emptying or regular maintenance, and is accepted by schoolgirls and janitors alike, and can improve conditions for menstrual hygiene management in schools. However, regular supervision, motivation of girls to correctly dispose of their products, and a long-term maintenance and management plan for the system are necessary.

scholarly journals Absorbency of Biodegradable Materials for Menstrual Hygiene Management Products in Low-and Middle-income Countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin Foster ◽  
Paul Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Sanitary Products ◽  
Extraction Processes ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Complex Extraction ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract IntroductionGirls in low-and middle-income countries struggle to maintain good menstrual hygiene in part due to a lack of affordable sanitary products. The unaffordability of reliable sanitary products can lead to school absenteeism and is a barrier to education attainment and gender equality for girls in low income contexts. Further the lack of adequate disposal facilities can lead to social embarrassment and environmental pollution.MethodsLow-cost biodegradable absorbents (cotton terry cloth, linen, hemp cloth and bamboo wadding) were investigated in gelatine solution in terms of their absorptivity for use in menstrual hygiene.ResultsBamboo wadding exhibits the highest absorptivity index (7.86), greater than cotton terry cloth (0.84), hemp cloth (1.4), linen (1.57) and a commercial sanitary pad (4.38).ConclusionsThough the absorptivity index of bamboo wadding is promising, especially in the light of the vast availability of bamboo in tropical low-and middle income countries, challenges lie in overcoming complex extraction processes from bamboo plants which is discussed.

scholarly journals Beyond menstrual hygiene: addressing vaginal bleeding throughout the life course in low and middle-income countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e000405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marni Sommer ◽  
Penelope A Phillips-Howard ◽  
Therese Mahon ◽  
Sasha Zients ◽  
Meredith Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Vaginal Bleeding ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Menstrual hygiene management in schools: midway progress update on the “MHM in Ten” 2014–2024 global agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marni Sommer ◽  
Bethany A. Caruso ◽  
Belen Torondel ◽  
Elodie C. Warren ◽  
Brooke Yamakoshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
School Environment ◽  
National Level ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Information Support ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Hygiene Management

AbstractProgress has been made in recent years to bring attention to the challenges faced by school-aged girls around managing menstruation in educational settings that lack adequate physical environments and social support in low- and middle-income countries. To enable more synergistic and sustained progress on addressing menstruation-related needs while in school, an effort was undertaken in 2014 to map out a vision, priorities, and a ten-year agenda for transforming girls’ experiences, referred to as Menstrual Hygiene Management in Ten (MHM in Ten). The overarching vision is that girls have the information, support, and enabling school environment for managing menstruation with dignity, safety and comfort by 2024. This requires improved research evidence and translation for impactful national level policies. As 2019 marked the midway point, we assessed progress made on the five key priorities, and remaining work to be done, through global outreach to the growing network of academics, non-governmental organizations, advocates, social entrepreneurs, United Nations agencies, donors, and national governments. This paper delineates the key insights to inform and support the growing MHM commitment globally to maximize progress to reach our vision by 2024. Corresponding to the five priorities, we found that (priority 1) the evidence base for MHM in schools has strengthened considerably, (priority 2) global guidelines for MHM in schools have yet to be created, and (priority 3) numerous evidence-based advocacy platforms have emerged to support MHM efforts. We also identified (priority 4) a growing engagement, responsibility, and ownership of MHM in schools among governments globally, and that although MHM is beginning to be integrated into country-level education systems (priority 5), resources are lacking. Overall, progress is being made against identified priorities. We provide recommendations for advancing the MHM in Ten agenda. This includes continued building of the evidence, and expanding the number of countries with national level policies and the requisite funding and capacity to truly transform schools for all students and teachers who menstruate.

scholarly journals Mapping the Knowledge and Understanding of Menarche, Menstrual Hygiene and Menstrual Health Among Adolescent Girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2020 ◽  
pp. 609-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli ◽  
Sheila Vipul Patel
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract This review aims to answer the following questions: (1) how knowledgeable are adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) about menstruation and how prepared are they for reaching menarche, (2) who are their sources of information regarding menstruation, (3) how well do the adults around them respond to their information needs, (4) what negative health and social effects do adolescents experience as a result of menstruation, and (5) how do adolescents respond when they experience these negative effects and what practices do they develop as a result? Using a structured search strategy, articles that investigate young girls’ preparedness for menarche, knowledge of menstruation, and practices surrounding menstrual hygiene in LMIC were identified. A total of 81 studies published in peer-reviewed journals between the years 2000 and 2015 that describe the experiences of adolescent girls from 25 different countries were included. Adolescent girls in LMIC are often uninformed and unprepared for menarche. Information is primarily obtained from mothers and other female family members who are not necessarily well equipped to fill gaps in girls’ knowledge. Exclusion and shame lead to misconceptions and unhygienic practices during menstruation. Rather than seek medical consultation, girls tend to miss school, self-medicate, and refrain from social interaction. Also problematic is that relatives and teachers are often not prepared to respond to the needs of girls. LMIC must recognize that lack of preparation, knowledge, and poor practices surrounding menstruation are key impediments not only to girls’ education, but also to self-confidence and personal development. In addition to investment in private latrines with clean water for girls in both schools and communities, countries must consider how to improve the provision of knowledge and understanding and how to better respond to the needs of adolescent girls.

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