scholarly journals Understanding the impacts of humanitarian Menstrual Health Management for women’s confidence and agency:  A case study on the Thai/Burma border

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Tessa Bardsley
Keyword(s):  
Health Management ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Refugee Camps ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
Menstruating Women ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Menstrual Products ◽  
Skills Education ◽  
Health Programme

<p>Menstrual Health Management (MHM) is a growing focus within global humanitarian and development work. MHM aims to increase women and girls’ ability to care for their menstruating bodies through period products, hygiene facilities and education. It also seeks to challenge wider barriers that women face during menstruation – stigma, shame and ‘period poverty’ (the lack of access to menstrual products). NGOs promote ‘menstrual activism’ campaigns to ‘Reduce the stigma’ and ‘Help women and girls. Period.’ They tell stories of girls who, with their menstrual products, can now attend school during their period.   Academic studies into the complexities of such programmes are sparse, however; particularly studies which privilege the experiences of the women involved and affected. Research on menstruation within the humanitarian field is also limited. This is despite the fact that women living in refugee camps and precarious spaces can have heightened difficulties due to scarcity of menstrual resources, disruption of support networks and facilities with inadequate privacy. Contextually and culturally embedded research that recognises the contributions and perspectives of these women can strengthen humanitarian MHM programmes and scholarship so that menstruating women can feel confidence and agency rather than stigma and shame.   In light of these gaps, this study investigates Partners Relief & Development’s (Partners) ‘Days for Girls’ menstrual health programme in Thailand. The programme employs migrant women from Burma to make reusable menstrual hygiene kits and donates these kits to women in conflict-affected areas. The research worked within a feminist epistemology and mixed-methods methodology informed by principles of Appreciative Inquiry, to explore what is working well and what could be improved in Partners’ menstrual health programme. It involved refugees and migrants from Myanmar living over the border in Thailand, as well as the programme’s staff.  Through thematic analysis, I found that the Days for Girls programme improves women’s agency (through increased community participation) and confidence (through menstrual literacy and menstrual provision). For the women who sew the Days for Girls kits, confidence and agency are also gained through income and skills-education. The strengths and challenges of Partners’ programme reveal the importance of menstrual literacy education, the use of women’s knowledge in NGO work with women, and a whole-of-community response to menstruation needs. The research also informs wider understandings of how MHM discourse and development practice affects menstrual stigma.</p>

scholarly journals Understanding the impacts of humanitarian Menstrual Health Management for women’s confidence and agency:  A case study on the Thai/Burma border

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Tessa Bardsley
Keyword(s):  
Health Management ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Refugee Camps ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
Menstruating Women ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Menstrual Products ◽  
Skills Education ◽  
Health Programme

<p>Menstrual Health Management (MHM) is a growing focus within global humanitarian and development work. MHM aims to increase women and girls’ ability to care for their menstruating bodies through period products, hygiene facilities and education. It also seeks to challenge wider barriers that women face during menstruation – stigma, shame and ‘period poverty’ (the lack of access to menstrual products). NGOs promote ‘menstrual activism’ campaigns to ‘Reduce the stigma’ and ‘Help women and girls. Period.’ They tell stories of girls who, with their menstrual products, can now attend school during their period.   Academic studies into the complexities of such programmes are sparse, however; particularly studies which privilege the experiences of the women involved and affected. Research on menstruation within the humanitarian field is also limited. This is despite the fact that women living in refugee camps and precarious spaces can have heightened difficulties due to scarcity of menstrual resources, disruption of support networks and facilities with inadequate privacy. Contextually and culturally embedded research that recognises the contributions and perspectives of these women can strengthen humanitarian MHM programmes and scholarship so that menstruating women can feel confidence and agency rather than stigma and shame.   In light of these gaps, this study investigates Partners Relief & Development’s (Partners) ‘Days for Girls’ menstrual health programme in Thailand. The programme employs migrant women from Burma to make reusable menstrual hygiene kits and donates these kits to women in conflict-affected areas. The research worked within a feminist epistemology and mixed-methods methodology informed by principles of Appreciative Inquiry, to explore what is working well and what could be improved in Partners’ menstrual health programme. It involved refugees and migrants from Myanmar living over the border in Thailand, as well as the programme’s staff.  Through thematic analysis, I found that the Days for Girls programme improves women’s agency (through increased community participation) and confidence (through menstrual literacy and menstrual provision). For the women who sew the Days for Girls kits, confidence and agency are also gained through income and skills-education. The strengths and challenges of Partners’ programme reveal the importance of menstrual literacy education, the use of women’s knowledge in NGO work with women, and a whole-of-community response to menstruation needs. The research also informs wider understandings of how MHM discourse and development practice affects menstrual stigma.</p>

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.

Educational interventions to improve menstrual health: approaches and challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreya Rastogi ◽  
Aparna Khanna ◽  
Pulkit Mathur
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Visual Aids ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
Study Characteristics ◽  
Cultural Taboos

Abstract Background Inappropriate menstrual care practices result in adverse health consequences among girls. Developing and implementing interventions that minimize these adverse consequences and facilitate development of healthy menstrual behavior are a priority for any nation. Objectives This study aimed at collating, summarizing and reviewing evidence to assess the effectiveness of interventions to improve menstrual health and the challenges faced in doing the same. Methods A systematic review of studies published in peer-reviewed journals and project reports was conducted. Intervention studies related to menstrual health management conducted from 2007 to 2018 were analyzed. A total of 27 interventions conducted among young girls in different countries were identified and study characteristics and outcomes were reviewed. Results Different intervention studies used a variety of methods like lectures, discussions, demonstrations using multiple audio-visual aids and provision of resources like menstrual cups, sanitary pads and washing soap to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene. Most of the interventions reported a positive impact on the awareness and menstrual practices of girls. However, in a few studies no significant change was observed in the attitude regarding regular bathing, practices related to self-medication for dysmenorrhea and socio-cultural taboos. Conclusion This review of literature has offered insights into the scope and development of future interventions so that apart from increasing awareness and knowledge on menstrual health issues, sustained behavior change can be brought about among girls to improve their health.

scholarly journals Pengaruh Pendidikan Kesehatan Terhadap Pengetahuan dan Sikap Siswa SMP Dharma Pancasila Tentang Manajemen Kesehatan Menstruasi

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Nur Asnah Sitohang ◽  
Cut Adeya Adella
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
P Value ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
The Right

Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is the management of hygiene and health when women experience menstruation. The main problem in adolescents related to menstruation is the lack of knowledge about MSM and poor water sanitation. Many girls don't have the right understanding that menstruation is a normal biological process. Community service aims to improve students' knowledge and attitudes about menstrual health management. The method used is socializing; identify the state of menstrual health service facilities in schools: bathrooms, water, information; carry out bathroom renovations; provide educational media about menstrual health management in the form of posters, videos, leaflets, modules and flip sheets. Pre-test and post-test aims to identify students' knowledge and attitudes about menstrual health management. Analysis of the data used is the dependent t test. The knowledge of students before being given health education majority was in the sufficient category and thereafter increased to good. Likewise, students' attitudes increase to be positive. The statistical test results obtained mean difference of 7.72 and P Value = 0.001, it can be concluded that there is a significant effect of health education on knowledge. For attitudes the mean difference is 1.62 and the P value  = 0.001, it can be concluded that there is a significant influence on health education on student attitudes. Therefore it is suggested to the school to include this topic in the subject matter. So students can apply it early and their reproductive health can be maintained.

scholarly journals Acceptability of Menstrual Products Interventions for Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Women and Girls in Malawi

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christabel Kambala ◽  
Angela Chinangwa ◽  
Effie Chipeta ◽  
Belen Torondel ◽  
Tracy Morse
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Menstrual Products

Abstract BackgroundA key challenge for menstruating girls and women in low-resource countries is the inadequate and unreliable supply of menstrual products. Although development partners are implementing menstrual product interventions to address this challenge in Malawi, there is a paucity of information on the distribution of menstrual products and the acceptability of these interventions among users.MethodsWe conducted in-depth interviews with girls (n=20) and women (n=26) and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with women (n=35) and 7 FGDs with girls (n=60) to explore the acceptability of menstrual products interventions in 8 districts. Teachers (n=12), community leaders (n=6), community health workers (n=8) and service providers (n=9) were also interviewed to explore implementation issues and their views regarding the effect of menstrual products interventions on girls and women. Data were analyzed using content analysis.ResultsCommon menstrual products being promoted include locally made reusable pads, commercially made disposable pads and menstrual cups. Overall, adult women preferred reusable pads and young girls preferred disposable pads. Reported benefits of using any type of material distributed included enhanced cleanliness and reduced school absenteeism for girls. While community leaders and teachers applauded the use of disposable menstrual products they expressed concern that they are not affordable for an average Malawian and bemoaned the indiscriminate disposal of used disposable pads. Women and girls highlighted their lack of facilities to effectively wash and dry reusable pads. Service providers bemoaned poor coordination and the lack of national standards to regulate the quality of menstrual products distributed at national level. Improved inclusion of males and health workers could enhance the sustainability of programmes. Conclusion While the available menstrual products interventions are acceptable among participants, we note several challenges including affordability, poor disposal methods, lack of attention on sanitation facilities and the lack of standard protocols to regulate the quality of menstrual products. Recommendations to address these issues are reported.

Poor menstrual hygiene management – an adverse outcome of menstrual stigmatization in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Rabia Maryam Mustafa ◽  
Asmat Zehra
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Adverse Outcome ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
Menstruating Women ◽  
Menstrual Products

Dear Editor, menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is defined as the awareness and confidence to manage one’s periods using hygienic products, having bathing and washing facilities and the ability to dispose of used menstrual products with dignity and privacy [1]. In Pakistan’s predominantly conservative society, menstruation and menstrual practices still face many social, cultural, and religious restrictions. Menstruating women are often considered impure and unclean [2]. As a result, women have to deal with significant challenges in MHM and adverse reproductive health outcomes. Continuous...

Girls' and Women's Rights to Menstrual Health in Nepal

2018 ◽  
pp. 156-168
Author(s):  
Kay Standing ◽  
Sara L. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
School Attendance ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Cultural Attitudes ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Gender Based

Being able to manage menstruation safely and without stigma is a basic human right which many women and girls in Nepal are denied. Unhygienic and ineffective menstrual hygiene practices have been linked to negative consequences for women and girls, in terms of both reproductive health and social factors such as school attendance. Negative cultural attitudes and taboos around menstruation are widespread in Nepal and basic knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene, especially in rural areas, is limited. The chapter begins to explore the barriers to menstrual health and right and how menstrual Hygiene Management Projects providing education on menstruation and the provision of reusable sanitary pads, are widely used by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Nepal to address these problems, with a stated goal of improving girls' reproductive health, educational performance, employment, reducing gender based violence and other psycho-social outcomes.

scholarly journals Acceptability of menstrual products interventions for menstrual hygiene management among women and girls in Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christabel Kambala ◽  
Angela Chinangwa ◽  
Effie Chipeta ◽  
Belen Torondel ◽  
Tracy Morse
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Menstrual Products

Abstract Background A key challenge for menstruating girls and women in low-resource countries is the inadequate and unreliable supply of menstrual products. Although development partners are implementing menstrual product interventions to address this challenge in Malawi, there is a paucity of information on the distribution of menstrual products and the acceptability of these interventions among users. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with girls (n = 20) and women (n = 26) and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with women (n = 35) and 7 FGDs with girls (n = 60) to explore the acceptability of menstrual products interventions in 8 districts. Teachers (n = 12), community leaders (n = 6), community health workers (n = 8) and service providers (n = 9) were also interviewed to explore implementation issues and their views regarding the effect of menstrual products interventions on girls and women. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results Common menstrual products being promoted include locally made reusable pads, commercially made disposable pads and menstrual cups. Overall, adult women preferred reusable pads and young girls preferred disposable pads. Reported benefits of using any type of material distributed included enhanced cleanliness and reduced school absenteeism for girls. While community leaders and teachers applauded the use of disposable menstrual products they expressed concern that they are not affordable for an average Malawian and bemoaned the indiscriminate disposal of used disposable pads. Women and girls highlighted their lack of facilities to effectively wash and dry reusable pads. Service providers bemoaned poor coordination and the lack of national standards to regulate the quality of menstrual products distributed at national level. Improved inclusion of males and health workers could enhance the sustainability of programmes. Conclusion While the available menstrual products interventions are acceptable among participants, we note several challenges including affordability, poor disposal methods, lack of attention on sanitation facilities and the lack of standard protocols to regulate the quality of menstrual products. Recommendations to address these issues are reported.

scholarly journals Addressing Menstrual Health & Hygiene Practices in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Kumar Mishra ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Research Work ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
The Face ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Women And Girls

Menstruation is the natural bodily process of releasing blood and associated matter from the uterus through the vagina as part of the menstrual cycle. Menstrual health take into account both menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices and the broader interventions that link menstruation to health, wellbeing, gender, education, equality, empowerment and rights. Ensuring menstrual health & hygiene (MHH) practices in the face of COVID-19 health crisis gains increased significance in today’s world. In relation to MHM, several countries have reported that COVID-19 pandemic has worsened key challenges for women and adolescent girls who bleed due to several reasons. This research work aims to address strategies needed to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on MHH. Also, attempts have been made to investigate into considerations needed for ensuring MHH practices among women and girls with disabilities, and refugee and displaced people, as they are likely to be severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary data (largely qualitative in nature) have been used in the work and nature of data analysis is descriptive. The paper concludes that there is need to ensure that MHH supplies and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are in place for both menstruating women and girls, and health care workers in hospital settings offering both menstrual health and COVID-19 care and services.

scholarly journals Pendidikan Kesehatan Tentang Manajemen Kesehatan Menstruasi Terhadap Pengetahuan dan Sikap Remaja Madrasah Tsanawiyah Swasta Amal Saleh

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Nur Asnah Sitohang ◽  
Dewi Elizadiani Suza ◽  
Cut Adeya Adella
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Health Management ◽  
The Body ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Menstrual Pain ◽  
Positive Research ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
Tv Commercials

Menstruation is periodic bleeding occurring repeatedly every month in women that starts about 14 days after ovulation and is released through the vagina. Menstruation is a characteristic feature of a woman's maturity where there is a change in the uterus in preparation for pregnancy. Menstrual health management (MHM) is a term that is often used in relation to cleanliness during menstruation. Menstrual health management includes facilities used during menstruation including clean water, soap used for bathing and cleaning all parts of the body as well as cleaning sanitary napkins that have been used. MHM is also related to the access they have to safe and comfortable facilities to dispose of used sanitary napkins. Young women must understand knowledge about menstruation and how to manage it appropriately without shame or fear. Health education is a form of independent nursing action to help clients, both individuals, groups and communities in overcoming their health problems through learning activities in which the nurse acts as a nurse educator. This study aims to increase students' knowledge and attitudes about menstrual health management by providing health education. The method used was to socialize activities to the school, identify the condition of menstrual health service facilities in schools such as bathrooms, clean water supply, provide educational media for menstrual health management in the form of videos, leaflets and modules; conduct health education about menstrual health management and post tests. The data analysis used was univariate. The number of samples was 36 people, namely grade VII students. The results of the study that the majority of respondents were 12 years (77.8%), had menstruation (58.3%), age at first menstruation was 11 years (52.3%), experienced menstrual pain (66.7%), information sources regarding: (1) hygiene during menstruation is the mother (38.5%), (2) sanitary napkins from TV commercials (25%), menstruation from mothers (45.5%), (3) types of sanitary napkins currently used modern sanitary napkins (65.9%), (4) the current brand of sanitary napkins from mothers (36.5%). The majority of  knowledge adolescents category is 88.9% good and the attitude of the adolescents is 100% positive. Research proves that there are still students with sufficient knowledge (10.1%) and considering the importance of MHM as an effort to prevent infection in the female reproductive system and minimize the occurrence of cervical cancer in women in the future. Researchers suggest that schools include this topic in subject matter so that reproductive health can be maintained.

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