Menstruation is a natural and essential part of the reproductive cycle. However, it remains a taboo topic in most parts of the world and it’s rarely talked about. These taboos affect the way women and girls participate and live during menstruation. In addition poverty in some communities, lead to limited access of hygienic products such as absorbents (sanitary towels), water and soap making it difficult for them to manage hygiene during menstruation, lack of proper sanitation such as places to wash and proper disposal is a challenge.
Lack of menstrual education is another big problem; lack of awareness before menarche contributes to the challenges faced by the girls. Lack of proper attention to Menstrual Hygiene Management has seen the girl child particularly being affected by Education, health and their productivity and even in cases their safety. Lack of research creates a gap in good menstrual hygiene management especially in areas like Kajiado and other pastoralists communities who have tough cultures.
We, therefore, believe that provision of sanitary products to the girls will increase the use of sanitary towels and consequently increase school attendance and school participation leading to an increase in school retention and completion rate. We also believe breaking the silence by talking about menstruation, teaching menstrual and reproductive health education will lead to increased knowledge on menstrual hygiene, improved self-efficacy, and esteem, it will also improve their attitudes and norms toward menstruation.
This will then lead to improved Sexual reproductive health reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and delay the time of first sex. This will again lead to school retention and completion. In the community it will increase better understanding of menstruation and open discussions within a family, and the dropping of cultural taboos