Product-access challenges to menstrual health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic among a cohort of adolescent girls and young women in Nairobi, Kenya

Wood, Shannon N.; Milkovich, Rachel; Thiongo, Mary; Byrne, Meagan E.; Devoto, Bianca; Wamue-Ngare, Grace; Decker, Michele R.; Gichangi, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101482

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Girls are more likely to experience sexual and gender-based abuse as they enter puberty, drop out of school, and get engaged early. According to a number of qualitative studies conducted in Africa, girls' vulnerabilities are exacerbated by their lack of knowledge about their bodies and rights, as well as their inability to efficiently and correctly manage their periods (Wood et al, 2022). When it comes to controlling their menstruation, girls and women in Kenya face a variety of challenges, including limited access to menstrual products and useful information.…”

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio Economic Determinants and Effective Menstrual Management among Primary School Girls in Rural Schools in Nyatike Sub County

Sure,

Odek,

Otuya

2023

AJERNET

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Access to menstrual hygiene products is a major challenge facing women and girls in developing countries, including Kenya. This study is about the socioeconomic determinants of menstrual management among girls in Nyatike Sub County. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to establish the effects of traditional practices on menstrual management among primary school girls, examine the effects of knowledge and awareness of hygiene on menstrual management, analyze the effects of family income on the menstrual management of girls, and assess the current measures that are in place to enhance menstrual health management of girls in rural primary schools in Nyatike Sub County. A descriptive survey design was used, and cluster sampling coupled with simple random sampling was used to select 689 respondents for the questionnaire, who were mainly primary school girls, head teachers and teachers, and the female heads of households. Descriptive analysis showed that 59.3% of the girls have encountered traditional restrictions during their menstruation. About 74.4% of the respondents believe that knowledge about menstrual hygiene has improved their overall confidence and comfort during menstruation. Additionally, 53.2% of the girls always have access to the menstrual hygiene products they need. However, 46.8% still have difficulties obtaining the necessary products. Consequently, 76.8% of the respondents revealed that their schools are sensitizing students about menstrual health and hygiene. The inferential analysis showed that traditional practices have various effects on menstrual management among primary school girls. In conclusion, there is a positive effect of knowledge and awareness of hygiene on menstrual management among primary school girls. It is also clear that most primary schools have implemented some menstrual health management strategies for girls. The study recommends regular awareness and sensitization programs for students, teachers, parents, and the community to eliminate stigma, myths, and misconceptions around menstruation.

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Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio Economic Determinants and Effective Menstrual Management among Primary School Girls in Rural Schools in Nyatike Sub County

Sure,

Odek,

Otuya

2023

AJERNET

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“…Although the last decade has witnessed significant investment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs, menstrual health and hygiene still pose a significant public health and social challenges in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) (Hennegan et al, 2019;Kuhlmann et al, 2017;Plesons et al, 2021Plesons et al, , 2023UNICEF, 2022;Wood et al, 2022). Millions of women still encounter difficulties in managing their menstrual periods while preserving their dignity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial heterogeneity of menstrual discriminatory practices against Nepalese women: a population-based study using the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey

Barini,

Amima,

Mulwa

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background Menstrual discrimination hampers progress toward Sustainable Development Goals. Examining the spatial heterogeneity of menstrual discriminatory practices may present an opportunity for targeted interventions. Here we evaluate geographical disparities in menstrual related restrictions and assess their association with socio-economic and demographic factors. Methodology We used the 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey data, focusing on women aged 15 to 49 who had experienced a menstrual period in the last year. We explored the spatial heterogeneity of menstrual restriction outcomes using the standard Gaussian kernel density approximation method and the spatial scan statistic. The Poisson regression model with robust standard errors was used to assess the association between the different forms of menstrual restriction and the socio-economic, and demographic factors. Findings Overall, the prevalence of women who reported any form of menstrual restriction was 84.8% and was subject to geographical variations ranging from 79.0% in Bagmati to 95.6% in Sudurpashchim. Religious restrictions were the most prevalent (79.8%) followed by household level restrictions (39.5%) and then Chhaupadi (6.2%). Geographical variations were more prominent for women experiencing Chhaupadi. Strikingly, women who reside in households led by female household heads were less likely to report experiencing household level restriction during menstruation (Adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) =0.89 [95%CI: 0.84–0.94], p<0.001) whilst those residing in wealthy households were less likely to report experiencing Chhaupadi (aPR =0.26 [95%CI: 0.17-0.39] among the richest). Interpretation We observed geographical micro-variations in menstrual discriminatory practices in Nepal presenting an opportunity for targeted behavioral interventions. Women empowerment is a promising strategy in the fight against menstrual discrimination within the household. Therefore, community-based targeted interventions should be designed and tested to determine their utility against Chhaupadi in these settings.

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“…Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected women's health and wellness, particularly regarding menstrual hygiene health (MHH). 14,15 A systematic review highlighting MHM during emergencies in low-and middle-income countries suggested the need for state-level guidance on MHH. 16 To protect women's human rights and achieve gender equality, the dissemination of MHH interventions is urgently needed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Interventions for Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management for Adolescent Girls: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Hamada,

Ninohei,

Yamaji

et al. 2024

PRIJNR

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Menstruation relates to women’s well-being, and menstrual health and hygiene are important. However, the effects of menstrual health and hygiene interventions remain unclear. This systematic review assessed the effects of menstrual health and hygiene interventions on adolescent girls and young women. Structured systematic searches were conducted using five databases from 5 August to 30 September 2022 with no restriction. We included individual-, cluster- and quasi-randomized controlled trials that assessedthe effects of menstrual health and hygiene interventions on the quality of life and social outcomes. Two researchers independently completed the screening process and assessed the risk of bias using the second version of the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials.Ten studies were described in 12 reports, and three ongoing studies were included. Five studies evaluated education interventions, one evaluated the distribution of menstrual products, and four assessed both. No study reported the quality of life. A small but non-significant positive impact on school attendance was found from the meta-analysis of four studies evaluating the distribution of sanitary products compared with no intervention (SMD = 0.23, 95%CI [-0.03, 0.48]). Although this study’s result should be used cautiously, menstrual health and hygiene interventions offer positive outcomes. Quality of life should be assessed as well. Morecomprehensive and innovative interventions and a rigorous research design are required, and nurses have an important role in education, practice and further research on this topic.

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Product-access challenges to menstrual health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic among a cohort of adolescent girls and young women in Nairobi, Kenya

Cited by 5 publications

References 18 publications

Socio Economic Determinants and Effective Menstrual Management among Primary School Girls in Rural Schools in Nyatike Sub County

Socio Economic Determinants and Effective Menstrual Management among Primary School Girls in Rural Schools in Nyatike Sub County

Spatial heterogeneity of menstrual discriminatory practices against Nepalese women: a population-based study using the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey

Effects of Interventions for Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management for Adolescent Girls: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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