Towards a sustainable solution for school menstrual hygiene management: cases of Ethiopia, Uganda, South-Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe
Murat Sahin, Selamawit Tamiru, Kuribachew Mamo, Pasquina Acidria, Rozalia Mushi, Chemisto Satya Ali, Lindiwe Ndebele
African schoolgirls face considerable challenges as a result of the real biological phenomenon of menstruation and its management. Menstruation is seen as a secret and is regarded as taboo. As a result girls are not receiving adequate support from home, schools, or the community. They are left on their own to address the challenge which consequently affects their school performance. Development interventions that deal only with the supply of materials cannot resolve the problem in a sustainable manner. We need to have a comprehensive approach that can improve: knowledge, attitude, and practice of girls, parents, and the community; sanitary materials supply; the policy environment; and the physical infrastructure. The issue of menstrual hygiene management is gaining recognition as part of the development agenda for improving girls' school participation. But there is little research and few practical case studies have been conducted to inform policy and practice. SNV Netherlands Development Organization is addressing menstrual hygiene under its WASH in School programme in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This article highlights baseline survey findings of the current menstrual hygiene management practices in the project areas of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe and recommends the approach piloted.House, S., Mahon, T., and Cavill, S. (2012) <Menstrual Hygiene Matters: A Resource for Improving Menstrual Hygiene around the World> [pdf] <www.wateraid.org/mhm≯ [accessed 19 August 2014]. www.wateraid.org/mhm
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House, S., Mahon, T., and Cavill, S. (2012) <Menstrual Hygiene Matters: A Resource for Improving Menstrual Hygiene around the World> [pdf] <www.wateraid.org/mhm≯ [accessed 19 August 2014]. www.wateraid.org/mhm
Jothy, K. and Kalaiselvl, S. (2012) ‘Is menstrual hygiene and management an issue for the rural adolescent school girls?’ <Elixir International Journal> 44: 7223–8.
McMahon, S., Winch, P., Caruso, B., Obure, A., Ogutu, E., Ochari, I. and Rheingans, R. (2011) ‘The girl with her period is the one to hang her head: reflections on menstrual management among schoolgirls in rural Kenya’, <BMC International Health and Human Rights> 11(7): 1–10.
Neginhal, V.S. (2010) <Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Menstrual Hygiene among Secondary School Girls in Semi Urban Area, Belgaum District: A Cross-sectional Study>, Master of Public Health thesis, Karnataka, India: KLE University.
Sommer, M., Vasquez, E., Worthington, N., and Sahin, M. (2012) <WASH in Schools: Empowers Girls’ Education: Proceedings of the Menstrual Hygiene Management in Schools Virtual Conference>, New York: UNICEF.
UNESCO (2014) <Good Policy and Practice in Health Education: Puberty Education and Menstrual Hygiene Management Booklet 9> [pdf], Paris: UNESCO <http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002267/226792e.pdf≯ [accessed 22 August 2014]. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002267/226792e.pdf
USA Department of Health and Human Services (2009) <Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle Fact Sheet> [online] <www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.html≯ [accessed 26 August 2014]. www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.html
House, S., Mahon, T., and Cavill, S. (2012) <Menstrual Hygiene Matters: A Resource for Improving Menstrual Hygiene around the World> [pdf] <www.wateraid.org/mhm≯ [accessed 19 August 2014]. www.wateraid.org/mhm
Jothy, K. and Kalaiselvl, S. (2012) ‘Is menstrual hygiene and management an issue for the rural adolescent school girls?’ <Elixir International Journal> 44: 7223–8.
McMahon, S., Winch, P., Caruso, B., Obure, A., Ogutu, E., Ochari, I. and Rheingans, R. (2011) ‘The girl with her period is the one to hang her head: reflections on menstrual management among schoolgirls in rural Kenya’, <BMC International Health and Human Rights> 11(7): 1–10.
Neginhal, V.S. (2010) <Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Menstrual Hygiene among Secondary School Girls in Semi Urban Area, Belgaum District: A Cross-sectional Study>, Master of Public Health thesis, Karnataka, India: KLE University.
Sommer, M., Vasquez, E., Worthington, N., and Sahin, M. (2012) <WASH in Schools: Empowers Girls’ Education: Proceedings of the Menstrual Hygiene Management in Schools Virtual Conference>, New York: UNICEF.
UNESCO (2014) <Good Policy and Practice in Health Education: Puberty Education and Menstrual Hygiene Management Booklet 9> [pdf], Paris: UNESCO <http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002267/226792e.pdf≯ [accessed 22 August 2014]. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002267/226792e.pdf
USA Department of Health and Human Services (2009) <Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle Fact Sheet> [online] <www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.html≯ [accessed 26 August 2014]. www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.html
House, S., Mahon, T., and Cavill, S. (2012) <Menstrual Hygiene Matters: A Resource for Improving Menstrual Hygiene around the World> [pdf] <www.wateraid.org/mhm≯ [accessed 19 August 2014]. www.wateraid.org/mhm
Jothy, K. and Kalaiselvl, S. (2012) ‘Is menstrual hygiene and management an issue for the rural adolescent school girls?’ <Elixir International Journal> 44: 7223–8.
McMahon, S., Winch, P., Caruso, B., Obure, A., Ogutu, E., Ochari, I. and Rheingans, R. (2011) ‘The girl with her period is the one to hang her head: reflections on menstrual management among schoolgirls in rural Kenya’, <BMC International Health and Human Rights> 11(7): 1–10.
Neginhal, V.S. (2010) <Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Menstrual Hygiene among Secondary School Girls in Semi Urban Area, Belgaum District: A Cross-sectional Study>, Master of Public Health thesis, Karnataka, India: KLE University.
Sommer, M., Vasquez, E., Worthington, N., and Sahin, M. (2012) <WASH in Schools: Empowers Girls’ Education: Proceedings of the Menstrual Hygiene Management in Schools Virtual Conference>, New York: UNICEF.
UNESCO (2014) <Good Policy and Practice in Health Education: Puberty Education and Menstrual Hygiene Management Booklet 9> [pdf], Paris: UNESCO <http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002267/226792e.pdf≯ [accessed 22 August 2014]. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002267/226792e.pdf
USA Department of Health and Human Services (2009) <Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle Fact Sheet> [online] <www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.html≯ [accessed 26 August 2014]. www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.html
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