| dc.description.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. | |
