Managing menstruation in the workplace: an overlooked issue in low- and middle-income countries.
The potential menstrual hygiene management barriers faced by adolescent girls and women in workplace environments in low- and middle-income countries has been under addressed in research, programming and policy. Despite global efforts to reduce poverty among women in such contexts, there has been insufficient attention to the water and sanitation related barriers, specifically in relation to managing monthly menstruation, that may hinder girls' and women's contributions to the workplace, and their health and wellbeing. There is an urgent need to document the specific social and environmental barriers they may be facing in relation to menstrual management, to conduct a costing of the implications of inadequate supportive workplace environments for menstrual hygiene management, and to understand the implications for girls' and women's health and wellbeing. This will provide essential evidence for guiding national policy makers, the private sector, donors and activists focused on advancing girls' and women's rights.
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA. ms2778@columbia.edu.
Marni
M
Sommer
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Sahani
S
Chandraratna
UNICEF Consultant, 27 Cranbrook Drive, Maidenhead, Berks, UK.
Sue
S
Cavill
WaterAid, 47-49 Durham Street, London, SE11 5JD, UK.
Therese
T
Mahon
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK.
Penelope
P
Phillips-Howard
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*
Gender; Low- and middle-income countries; Menstruation; Women’s health; Workplace