1.4.6 Women’s Health Considerations

1.4.6 Women’s Health Considerations

By Alexandra Weller

Menstruation and Menstrual Health Management (MHM), has been a continuous issue for women. Shame, stigma and misinformation continue to impact the understanding and accessibility to education, menstrual products and facilities, forcing menstruators to be denied the right to manage their monthly menstrual cycle in a dignified and health way (Tellier & Hyttel, 2017 & United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2019). This is a result of gender inequality, discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, poverty and lack of basic services which is prompting Goal 6.2 of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals to not be met; a goal which specifically encourages “paying special attention to the needs of women and girls” (UN, 2020). Adolescent girls are highly susceptible to stigma, harassment and social exclusion during menstruation, which produces negative impacts on the individuals life: restricting their mobility; freedom and choices; affecting attendance and participation in school and community life; compromising their safety, and causing stress and anxiety (UNICEF, 2019). To form an understanding on the acceptance and understanding of menstruation within the Baghere community, the kay actions for menstrual hygiene management has been developed to establish an appropriate response to this natural fact of life.

Figure 20 Menstrual Hygiene Management Key Actions

Created by A.Weller, (2021).

It is with the assumption that Baghere does not have adequate facilities, menstrual products, nor a complete understanding and respect for the menstrual cycle, as open defecation is the primary means of defecating. This emphasises that that women and girls encounter the difficulties in managing hygiene during menstruation as they lack the enabling environment to do so, as they have difficulty exercising their right to water, sanitation and education (UNICEF, 2019). With continuing disregard, taboo and misinformation on menstruation, there provides the ability to significantly

impact a number of Sustainable Development Goals, whilst prompting a further gap in gender equality.

Table 8 Implications of MHM on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Goal Reference

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-

Being 3.7 “...universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services...”

MMH Not Present Effect The lack of basic knowledge about puberty and menstruation may contribute to early and unwanted pregnancy.

Negatively affect mental-health and well-being.

Unhygienic sanitation products may make girls susceptible to reproductive tract infections and other health conditions.

Goal 4: Quality Education 4.1 “...all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education...”

4.5 “...eliminate gender disparities in education...”

4.7 “...all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote...human rights, gender equality...”

4.a “Build and upgrade education facilities that are child-, disabilityand gender-sensitive...”

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation 5.1 “End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls...”

5.5 “Ensure women’s full and effective participation...in public life.”

5.6 “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health...”

6.2 “...access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.”

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 8.8 “...promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants...” Females may be absent or less attentive in school during menstruation due to a lack of WASH facilities, or support from the school community, negatively affecting education.

Gender equality will not be achieved when taboos and myths prevent menstruating women and girls from participating in society.

Taboos and myths related to menstruation can portray women and girls as inferior to men and boys.

Continue to suppress importance of the menstrual cycle and adequate facilities for women and girls to feel safe and comfortable when menstruating, continuing present discrimination and taboos.

Menstruation limiting a women’s ability to work.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production 12.5 “...reduce waste generation...” 12.9 “Support developing countries to strengthen their... capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production” Causing women to stop work for a number of days to manage their menstruation.

Failure to develop markets for quality menstrual materials can impact upon the sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Note. Adapted from UNICEF, (2018) by A.Weller, (2021).

It is thus critical for the Women’s House to include in its inception the promotion of understanding of the biological fact of menstruation, the necessity of managing menstruation, and society’s response to menstruation, as this is linked to every women’s and girl’s human rights. It is with menstrual health and hygiene interventions and programmes which aim to remove the unnecessary barriers to information and supplies on menstruation. To achieve this, the Women’s Centre will implement:

Table 9 Strategies and Aims of Identified Strategies for Women’s Menstrual Health

Strategy Aim

Increase understanding of MHM To provide women and girls with an understanding of the biological practices and barriers females fact of menstruation, how to manage menstruation and practices face which should be adopted during the monthly cycle. Allow women and girls to break down the myths and taboos which exist around menstruation to enable them to feel more confident and safe with menstruating. Educate women and females on sanitary products used when menstruating. Provide women and girls coping mechanism and behavioural adaptions in relation to menstruation. Provide women and girls the understanding of effects of menstruation: headaches, cramps, behavioural change, intensity of flow, ability to concentrate and fatigue. Promote discussion and the breaking down of preconceived ideas and beliefs. Build a capacity of individual with knowledge on menstruation and menstrual practices. Promote positive social norms around menstruation.

Incorporation of gender-sensitive MHM support in WASH Allow women and girls to feel safe and dignified when using the WASH facilities at the Women’s House by separating the male and female toilets.

Increase understanding on sanitary practices in WASH Educate women and girls the importance of hand washing and bathing to eliminate and minimise urinary tract infections and bacterial infections.

Develop a workshop for the making of sanitary items Build on developed skills to create own reusable and washable sanitary napkins with local and accessible materials.

Provide women and girls the knowledge of hygienic practices with demonstration of how to use sanitary items during menstruation.

Provide women an economic return whilst breaking the sigma through creating reusable and washable sanitary napkins which can be marketed.

Increase understanding on reproductive health Educate women and children on pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health.

Created by A.Weller, (2021).

It is with these strategies in which the Women’s Centre can contribute to a gradual change in the misconceived perceptions, stigmas and myths of menstruation through the educating, upskilling and supporting of women and girls in Baghere and the surrounding municipalities. Through the elimination of barriers and formed ideas, it will allow women and girls to no longer feel ashamed of menstruation whilst providing the ability to hygienically and safely manage the natural cycle with an enabling environment which empowers the female population.