The Menstruation Paradox: Menstruation Hygiene Management of women living in rural areas of eastern Uganda

Abstract

Comfortable management of menstruation is fundamental for all women and its absence is a denial of their basic rights (Jalali, 2019; Budhaktoki et al., 2018). Comfortable and effective management of menstruation for women requires access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, affordable menstrual hygiene materials, information on good practices, and a supportive environment without embarrassment or stigma (World Bank, 2023). The WHO/UNICEF JMP (2012) created a definition for adequate Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), which is defined as women and adolescent girls using a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect blood that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of the menstruation period, using soap and water for washing the body as required, and having access to facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials (Sommer & Sahin, 2013; Budhathoki et al., 2018). Unfortunately, an estimated 500 million women lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for MHM (World Bank, 2023). Lack of access to adequate menstrual facilities can cause frustration, confusion and embarrassment (Caruso et al., 2017), is the leading contributor to school absenteeism for girls (Corburn & Hildebrand, 2015) and the reason women report missing work during their menstruation (Hennegan et al., 2020). Women’s menstrual practices are not only shaped by access to menstrual facilities but are also shaped and restricted by social norms and cultural taboos on menstruation. These social norms on menstruation increase women’s anxiety of being exposed and feelings of shame and disgust (Hennegan et al., 2020; Sahoo et al., 2015; Jalai, 2019). Thus, both physical and sociocultural factors may shape women’s menstrual hygiene management, which increases risks for their physical health, may affect women’s well-being and may interfere with women’s education and work attendance.