Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Women's Menstrual Hygiene Needs in Emergencies
Women's Menstrual Hygiene Needs in Emergencies
Women's Menstrual Hygiene Needs in Emergencies
1
Local suppliers should be considered before
bringing in materials from outside, both as
support to the local market and because the
beneficiaries are likely to be familiar with the Distributions need to be handled sensitively,
materials on offer accompanied by basic information (written,
All women of child-bearing age should be pictoral, verbal) about the items provided,
targeted, but womens hormonal balance even if discussions have been had with
can be affected by stress and malnutrition, women.
so care should be taken in making
assumptions about who is of child-bearing Where markets are functioning, it may be
age. A mass distribution of cloth that could preferable to provide women with cash or
have other purposes than simply for vouchers instead of a more traditional
menstrual protection is preferable to narrow distribution.
targeting.
Rather than doing a traditional
distribution, Oxfams team in Banda
In 2007, the Chad programme in Kerfi Aceh after the 2004 Tsunami organised
targeted both IDP and host communities. a market for women to choose their own
The Oxfam team consulted traditional underwear. Women were given vouchers
women leaders from both communities on for sets of underwear, and on the
womens personal hygiene needs, and a arranged day the goods were brought to
dark brown cotton material was chosen. a large tent staffed by a female team.
Women and girls from 11-12 years of age The underwear was supplied by a local
were registered. The Chiefs and their retailer in different colours and sizes, and
secretaries assisted the women with the the women could choose which items
registration process since all the women they wanted.
leaders were illiterate. It was a relief to see
both IDP and host community women who
were generally very hostile to one another
Personal Hygiene and Privacy
sitting together and making jokes as they
Women living in seclusion pose additional
prepared the hygiene kits. The younger
challenges for Public Health staff. If they are
women taught the older women how to use
unable to leave their living areas then
the scissors, while the women leaders
female public health staff will need to
showed the younger girls how to use the
negotiate access to their living areas to find
menstrual cloth. During the distribution
out their menstrual needs and problems. If
Oxfam female staff held discussions with
the provision of communal latrines and
the women on the importance of good
bathing facilities is the only option then the
personal hygiene and health risks
privacy of these facilities is the most
associated with poor hygiene during
important consideration.
menstruation.
Some of the positive feedback was around In Sri Lanka after the 2004 Tsunami,
the involvement of women leaders in the Oxfam constructed communal latrines in
process, the fact that household registration camps. A few latrines in each block were
enabled the distribution to reach target replaced by washing cubicles for the
groups, and that the distribution was not specific use of menstruating women to
rushed, allowing time for questions and wash in. No one consulted the women
discussions. The items, underwear, and though, and they didnt go in them,
material were appropriate and the women because they didnt want everyone to
appreciated the kit. However, women know they were menstruating.
leaders recommended that all women
should be targeted. They explained that it
was difficult to ascertain the ages of older
women, and pointed out that the cloth could
be used for other purposes than just
menstrual protection.
2
Following consultation with those living in Washing slab for menstrual cloths inside
camps after the Pakistan earthquake in a screened block and washing lines for
2005, Public Health Engineers worked drying the cloths.
with Public Health Promoters to design
and build womens facilities that provided Disposal of menstrual material
privacy. Womens washing and bathing Distribution of disposable sanitary pads at
facilities were built with additional spaces the beginning of a response can be used as
with plastic sheeting walls that created a temporary solution, provided that
more privacy for washing and drying appropriate disposal solutions are put in
menstrual cloths. place. But in places where refuse systems
are poor or non-existent, disposal of sanitary
In one camp the women appreciated pads is a challenge. If disposable sanitary
having separate units within the latrine pads are to be provided then facilities for
blocks to wash and dry their menstrual effective collection and disposal are
cloths. The separate units were essential.
constructed inside the existing screened
latrines and bathing block structure.
In the 2005 Pakistan earthquake response,
Women were also happy to socialise in
women disposed of used sanitary pads in
these separate units.
the pour-flush toilets. These frequently
Another consideration is whether to blocked, and Oxfam had to hire people to
distribute additional soap for washing unblock the toilets each time. The women
sanitary protection material, and to take into explained that the toilets were the only
account how and where the material will be private place to dispose of used sanitary
dried. Often, menstrual cloths will not be pads. The problem was solved when
hung out to dry in the open but will be Oxfam team provided waste bins and
hidden under other washed clothes. It may advised women to use them instead.
be appropriate to distribute washing lines to
hang up in private spaces where cloths can
be dried.
In Haiti during the hurricane response in
2008, the pre-packed household/
personal hygiene kit contained six
packets of sanitary pads. However, the
Public Health Promotion team discussed
disposal of used sanitary pads
beforehand. Women were advised not to
throw used pads out in the mud or with
other garbage but to bury them.
Communal pits were dug for this
purpose; this worked well with no signs
of used pads visible around the shelters.
This was a useful temporary measure
3 until field staff had time to consult
affected women and source materials
appropriate to their culture.
Monitoring
Monitoring mechanisms should be put in
place from initial logistics ordering of
materials for menstruation through to post-
distribution and the feedback used as much
as possible to improve support during
menstruation for women.
i
Jeanette Cooke, Practical Intervention to
meet the menstrual Hygiene needs of
Schoolgirls A case study from Katakwi,