Empowering Girls by Breaking the Taboo: The Importance of Menstrual Hygiene for Global Health

HopeCore Health Educator teaching grade school students about the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Management. Chogoria, Kenya. PC: Melavin Muthamaki

Introduction

Menstruation is a natural process that occurs in the lives of women and girls. However, despite its universality, menstruation is often surrounded by stigma, taboo, and misinformation. In many parts of the world, menstrual hygiene management is a neglected issue, with girls and women facing significant challenges in accessing information, products, and facilities to manage their periods.

In this article, we will explore why menstrual hygiene is important in the context of global health and empowering girls. We will discuss the challenges faced by girls and women in managing their periods, the impact of poor menstrual hygiene on health and wellbeing, and the efforts being made to address this critical issue.

Stigma and Misinformation Surrounding Menstruation

In many low- and middle-income countries, menstrual hygiene management is a major challenge for girls and women. Lack of access to sanitary products, clean water, and private facilities can make it difficult to manage periods with dignity and comfort. This can lead to girls missing school, women missing work, and both facing social isolation and stigma.

In addition, menstruation is often surrounded by stigma and taboo, which can contribute to misinformation and shame. Lack of education and awareness about menstruation can result in girls and women not understanding their bodies, feeling embarrassed or ashamed about their periods, and being vulnerable to myths and harmful practices.

HopeCore provides sanitary kits to girls that last for the full year.

Health Implications of Poor Menstrual Hygiene

The lack of access to adequate menstrual hygiene management has serious implications for the health and wellbeing of girls and women. Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to reproductive and urinary tract infections, and other health problems such as anemia, malnutrition, and dehydration.

In addition, the social and psychological impact of poor menstrual hygiene can be significant. Girls who miss school because of their periods are at a disadvantage in their education, and may drop out altogether. Women who miss work due to their periods may experience financial hardship, reduced productivity, and limited opportunities for career advancement.

Global and National Initiatives to Address Menstrual Hygiene

The global community has made significant efforts to address the challenges of menstrual hygiene management, particularly for girls and women in low- and middle-income countries. In 2015, the United Nations included menstrual hygiene as a target within the Sustainable Development Goals, calling for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including menstrual hygiene management.

Organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization have developed guidance and resources to support menstrual hygiene management, including the provision of sanitary products, education and awareness-raising, and the development of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools and communities.

In addition, non-governmental organizations and social enterprises are working to increase access to affordable and sustainable menstrual products, such as reusable pads and menstrual cups, which can be used over a long period of time.

Conclusion

Having access to proper menstrual hygiene management is critical to the health and empowerment of girls and women globally. When access is limited, it can negatively impact their health, education, and economic opportunities. By breaking the taboo and addressing the challenges, we can ensure that girls and women have the support they need to manage their periods comfortably and with dignity.

As individuals, we can help improve menstrual hygiene by advocating for policies that promote access to menstrual products and WASH facilities, supporting organizations that work to increase access to menstrual products and education, and having open and honest conversations about menstruation.

Overall, menstrual hygiene is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. By working together, we can make sure that menstruation is no longer a barrier to the health, education, and empowerment of girls and women around the world.

How HopeCore is helping:

In 2016, HopeCore launched the Menstrual Hygiene Management project. This project has worked to address this challenge by providing annual sanitary kits to 2500 school girls every year. Each kit contains a year’s supply of sanitary towels and an educational pamphlet. Furthermore, our teams offer menstrual hygiene management education to girls to empower them to grow up as confident beings with the proper understanding of their bodies.

An example of how our program deploys the MHM project:

During the week of February 15th, 2023- the HopeCore health teams conducted an education campaign in 15 different schools. 1686 students were educated on MHM and 409 girls received menstrual kits for the entire year.

Your contributions continue to help us expand our services to women and girls in rural Kenya. Thank you for being part of our success story!