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Africa's refugee women and girls often lack access to menstrual products and a new report has called for urgent attention to mestrual hygiene management in refugee camps.
Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in refugee settings face numerous challenges, such as limited access to safe, private facilities and inadequate supplies of menstrual products, cultural and social stigma, the authors of the report noted.
The prevalence of inadequate access to sanitary pads during humanitarian crises is estimated at 34 per cent, they found.
Use of unsafe or unsanitary menstrual products is associated with prolonged health challenges, including a heightened risk of infections, skin irritation and vaginal issues. These problems can significantly impact women’s physical well-being and may lead to complications that necessitate medical attention.
Furthermore, the cultural beliefs, stigma and fear of sexual violence restrict women’s activities during menstruation, the researchers noted. Lack of knowledge about menstrual health and inadequate infrastructure further exacerbate these issues, they added.
In refugee camps, inadequate sanitation facilities can result in harassment and gender-based violence. The absence of proper disposal options heightens feelings of shame and health hazards. Numerous girls skip school because of menstrual pain, lack of supplies and fear of leaks.
Mental health challenges also occur due to the shame, stigma and social isolation linked to menstruation, contributing to increased stress, depression and anxiety.
Financial constraints prevent girls and women refugees from obtaining menstrual products. As a result, many female refugees resort to using less sanitary substitutes like old clothing, paper or other makeshift items because they cannot afford essential menstrual supplies.
The study published in the journal BioMed Central was based on a scoping review of 16 studies done between 2014 and 2024.
The studies were conducted in Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Somalia, Madagascar and south Sudan.
This study identified significant gaps in MHM among refugee populations, highlighting the urgent need for further research.
Social stigma around menstruation should be a research focus to understand how engaging men can help reduce barriers to MHM.
Policymakers must integrate MHM into humanitarian aid programmes to ensure access to menstrual products, education and gender-segregated water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, they added.
The disposal of menstrual waste is another issue, as insufficient disposal methods result in poor waste management and environmental risks, the report highlighted. The environmental impact of disposable menstrual products in refugee camps also requires further exploration to identify alternatives suitable for resource-limited settings.
Addressing the challenges of MHM, the authors shared, will enhance health outcomes, reduce school absenteeism and promote dignity and well-being.