Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)

Managing menstruation hygienically, effectively & with dignity can be challenging for girls & women in low & middle-income countries.

Limited research on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in Pacific.

Fiji data collection, November 2016.

Collaborating organisations: Burnet Institute, WaterAid, International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) & a local research partner - the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

Understand how women & girls in Fiji manage menstruation.

Explore the barriers/challenges experienced by these women & girls in managing menstruation.

Determine the impact of menstrual management practices on women & girls’ participation in education & income generation.

Identify opportunities to improve women’s & girls’ ability to manage their menstruation effectively & with dignity.

Focus group discussions (FGDs); interviews; WASH checklist; review of product availability & cost.

•Purposive & convenience sampling

•Viti Levu & Vanua Levu

•Language of discussion

•Thematic analysis

•Approved by the Fiji National Health Research and Ethics Review Committee & the Fiji Ministry of Education Heritage and Arts.

Knowledge, attitude and beliefs about menstruation

Access to WASH facilities and safe, discrete disposal of absorbent materials

Access to effective materials to manage menstruation

“Oh they will tease us…sometimes they will just come to you and will be like, ‘I know what you have in your bag’. And through that they take money. You give me this and I will keep it as a secret. For some girls they find it fun, but some they find it embarrassing and some of them don’t even come back to school for the next day.”

(FGD Girls not in school, urban).

Lack of basic knowledge of biology and charting cycle –leads to fear and embarrassment

Teachers need formal training but very supportive Mothers, friends supportive but lack depth of

knowledge People were more comfortable talking about

Menstruation Huge urban and rural differences Family Male support is commendable (brothers and

fathers) Facilities were not disability friendly Disparity in access and products between rural and

urban

“When my daughter’s menses is near I went to buy plenty packets [of pads] for her, so she could take some to school as well…I don’t want her to borrow or have none at all.” (FGD Men, urban).

Impacts on participation: school, work and broader community.

Negative emotional impact

Education and awareness

Absorbent materials

Access to water and sanitation facilities

1. Strengthen government leadership and policy commitment on supporting MHM within the Ministry of Health (MOHMS) and Ministry of Education (MoE)

2. Improve access to high quality information about menstruation and MHM via MoE, MoHMS and non-government organisations (NGO) working in the area of sexual and reproductive health and WASH

3. Improve availability, affordability, and access to quality commercial menstrual hygiene products in rural areas

4. Water, sanitation and hygiene facilities

Women and men need accurate and accessible information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene, and this can be difficult given the myths and social constructs in place. To enable women and girls to practice good menstrual hygiene management, they need to be provided with the proper facilities.

Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development

Study participants

Fiji study team Logistical and planning support

Lisa Natoli, Chelsea Huggett, Yasmin Mohamed, Alison Mcintyre, Donna McSkimming, DaniBarrington, Kelly Durrant, Jessica Waite.