A Time for Global Action: Addressing Girls’ Menstrual Hygiene Management Needs in Schools

Summary

Summary Points • There is an absence of guidance, facilities, and materials for schoolgirls to manage their menstruation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). • Formative evidence has raised awareness that poor menstrual hygiene management (MHM) contributes to inequity, increasing exposure to transactional sex to obtain sanitary items, with some evidence of an effect on school indicators and with repercussions for sexual, reproductive, and general health throughout the life course. • Despite increasing evidence and interest in taking action to improve school conditions for girls, there has not been a systematic mapping of MHM priorities or coordination of relevant sectors and disciplines to catalyze change, with a need to develop country-level expertise. • Columbia University and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) convened members of academia, nongovernmental organizations, the UN, donor agencies, the private sector, and social entrepreneurial groups in October 2014 (“MHM in Ten”) to identify key public health issues requiring prioritization, coordination, and investment by 2024. • Five key priorities were identified to guide global, national, and local action.

Related articles

• Died, euthanised, slaughtered or alive? outcomes for 10 023 Ayrshire and Holstein cows and associations between veterinary treatments and mortality

  This study analyzes the outcomes for 10,023 Ayrshire and Holstein cows, focusing on the associations between veterinary treatments and mortality, including reasons for culling and cow exit strategies within Finnish dairy herds.

• Cardiovascular System

  This document provides an in-depth look at the structure and function of the cardiovascular system, detailing the heart, blood vessels, and the processes involved in circulation and nutrient transport throughout the body.

• Human Anatomy & Physiology (Lab) Prelims | 1st Term A.Y. 2026-2027

  This document outlines the organization of the human body, detailing anatomical planes, directional terms, body cavities, and cell types. It serves as a lab resource for students studying human anatomy and physiology.

• Framework of Maternal and Child Health Nursing

  This document outlines the framework of maternal and child health nursing, detailing the roles and goals of nurses in providing care during the childbearing and childrearing periods. It discusses the importance of family-centered care and the integration of evidence-based practices in nursing.

• Framework of Maternal and Child Nursing

  This document provides a comprehensive overview of maternal and child health nursing, discussing the continuum of care for mothers and children and the roles of nurses, midwives, and obstetricians in promoting family health during pregnancy and child-rearing.