Periods... why the taboo?

Previous posts have looked at how women and girls are disproportionately affected by water crises in Africa, bearing the burden with regard to water collection. Cultural norms worsen this and must be addressed, in particular, with meaningful discussion about taboos concerning menstruation. 

An estimated 800 million girls and women around the world experience menstruation each day, however, a large number continue to face persistent challenging in managing their menstruation safely and without stigma. In many Senegalese communities, there is a belief that menstrual blood is an 'impurity, filthy, an evil substance...' Consequently, women are segregated and not allowed to contribute in household activities such as cooking and cleaning, which can severely damage self-esteem. 

These taboos are exacerbated by the presence of period poverty, which is the inability to access sanitary products and having a poor knowledge of menstruation, often due to financial constraints. Organisations like the UN have stressed the significance of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) (gender equality in SDG 5) but inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH), and an abundance of misinformation means period taboos are still widespread. 

Figure 1: A workshop working on removing taboos around menstruation. Nigeria Health Watch (2020)

Shame, illness, and education

Many African women and girls have numerous concerns when it comes to their menstrual cycles and dealing with them effectively. In a Senegalese study, 55.8% of women and girls reported having feelings of shame, and 40.3% had feelings of fear when discussing the subject of menstruation. Over 83% admitted they felt unprepared to welcome their first menstrual cycle. On top of insufficient local water infrastructure and needing to travel long distances, millions of African women cannot afford proper sanitary products and resort to using blankets, rugs or feathers. This can drastically increase the likelihood of vaginal pain and infections, while usually resulting in blood-stained uniforms, leading to bullying from, particularly, male peers. 

This impacts academic performance and attendance, with 45% of women in the Senegalese study stating they missed school during their periods. Female employees missed, on average, 2.5 days of work and those in the informal sector reported estimated economic losses, ranging between $3 and $75 each day. 

Case study: Kigali Menstrual Station

Many organisations now prioritise menstrual health in Africa, so women and girls can remain healthy, attend school and enter the work force. The Kigali Menstrual Station in Rwanda was set up with the goal of educating adolescents about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and combating the stigma around menstruation. Since opening in May 2022, hundreds of girls and boys regularly visit the station for various programs educating them about the menstrual cycle while giving them a space to ask questions. INOVOS is one company that donates sanitary pads to the station, helping those who cannot afford them. Similar initiatives have been introduced in other African countries, aiming to raise awareness about the role of MHM as a public health priority in public policies. 

Figure 2: The Kigali Menstrual Station. MPIA (2022) 

Menstrual health must be a human right. Both men and women need to engage in conversation to remove these taboos and ensure that mental and physical health is protected.