End Poverty. Period.
Ending period poverty through health education in developing countries
With schools in every state in Australia now providing free pads and tampons in school bathrooms, a major push to provide paid period leave, and some local companies introducing menstrual policies, we are making real progress here in Australia on tackling taboos around menstruation and addressing period poverty.
But for those who menstruate in low- and middle-income countries in our region, there is still significant stigma surrounding menstruation, and very real gaps in knowledge that can affect health and education outcomes and even their ability to earn a living.
What we’ll cover:
- What is period poverty?
- Impact of period poverty in Bangladesh
- Empowering women through menstrual health education
- Improving access to menstrual hygiene products
- How health leaders earn income to support their community
- Providing hygiene infrastructure through school improvement loans
- How you can help alleviate period poverty
What is period poverty?
Period poverty is the inability to access to menstrual products, toilets and hygiene facilities, and education, and for girls and women living in poverty, it is compounded by cultural taboos around discussing menstruation. The ability to access affordable sanitary pads is important, but it is crucial that it is also supported by changing existing social norms about menstruation, proper education, information, and other services to improve menstrual health.
Menstrual Hygiene Day aims to break the taboo and end the stigma surrounding menstruation – making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030. Menstrual health is a human right. Opportunity International Australia’s health and education programs are addressing social stigma and providing education about menstrual health and menstrual hygiene, facilitating access to menstrual products and telemedicine for women, removing barriers to education for girls, and supporting women to earn an income.
Akhi, a Health Leader in Bangladesh, with a safety kit for women
Periods still come as a surprise to 9 out of 10 in Bangladesh
While menstrual health education begins in Australian schools in year 5, a recent study conducted by a local Health program partner found that for 90 per cent of adolescent girls surveyed in Bangladesh their first period arrived before they knew anything about menstruation. Another study on menstural hygiene management in Bangladesh found most women were resorting to unhygienic practices during their periods. In the slums of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, about 95 per cent of women and 90 per cent of adolescent girls were reusing rags during menstruation without properly cleaning them – contributing to significant health issues.
What’s more due to social stigma and lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, more than half of women in Bangladesh and more than two-thirds in Nepal do not participate in everyday activities while menstruating.
Community health education provided by Health Leaders trained by Opportunity’s local partners in Bangladesh, India and Indonesia provide crucial knowledge to women and girls about menstrual health and proper menstrual hygiene, as well as reproductive health. We work with our microfinance partners in Asia, who are trusted and respected in the communities they serve. The health content is tailored for the local area, and taught by female Health Leaders from the communities themselves, who understand the cultural sensitivities and cultural taboos around certain health issues.
How menstrual health education empowers women
Mother of three in Bangladesh Rojina, felt ill-equipped to educate her oldest daughter about periods when she started puberty early. Her daughter felt isolated at school and felt she couldn’t participate in games or social events while menstruating. When Rojina met her local Health Leader Taslima, and received menstrual and reproductive health education, she was able to pass on the knowledge to her daughter. Her daughter now knows the basics of menstrual health and how to manage her monthly cycle. “Now my daughter goes to school, plays with friends, eats nutritious food, and participates in family activities. She is now aware of menstrual and reproductive health and is very happy,” said Rojina.
Rojina and her daughter
“Seeing our Health Leaders’ passion for improving the health of their communities reminds me of our common goal of creating a better life for the next generation,” said Annie Wang, Health and Women’s Safety Programs Director, Opportunity. “On a recent visit to Bangladesh, I asked a group of women what they most appreciated about the health education. One woman raised her hand and excitedly shared a conversation she had with her daughter about the importance of using menstrual pads. She giggled and smiled proudly.”
Health entrepreneurs tackle access to period products and medical support
Affordability and lack of access to period products remains a barrier for many women living in poverty – especially those in rural and remote areas. In India, COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns further affected availability of menstrual products, as the distribution of pads was limited in areas with strict lockdowns.
Opportunity’s Health Entrepreneurs initiative supports women who have been trained as Health Leaders, to also establish health-related businesses. The businesses supply products like menstrual pads and basic medications, making menstrual products readily available in communities where women would otherwise have to travel long distances to purchase the products. Some Health Entrepreneurs also facilitate teleconsultations with doctors – that help to remove barriers for rural women to access timely health support.
Women are less likely than men to travel to seek health services, and often feel embarrassed to seek help for stigmatised health issues. For instance, one of our local partners in India recently shared with Opportunity that one in three women seeking a teleconsultation through a female Health Entrepreneur, was displaying symptoms of reproductive tract infections, which is a symptom of poor menstrual hygiene management, and low levels of awareness of reproductive health.
Healthy income supporting healthy community
Sunita is a Health Entrepreneur in Bihar addressing these challenges.
When Sunita got married, aged 20 and moved in with her in-laws, she became responsible for the majority of domestic chores in a 12-person household, and was unable to continue her studies. Sunita became a Health Entrepreneur, hoping to continue to learn and support her family financially, while supporting the health of her community. Sunita was among the more than 90 per cent of Health Entrepreneurs who were unable to use a smartphone adequately prior to her training. Since being trained, she has gained confidence in educating her community about tele-consultations and supporting them to seek treatment from doctors, especially for sensitive issues – like reproductive health.
Sunita initially found it difficult to convince people to use teleconsultations, however as a member of the community, she was able to steadily build trust and gain the confidence of women in the community. “Every success gives more strength to work hard to bring positive change in our life and also in the community,” Sunita said “Our [Health Entrepreneurs] program has given me that scope and hope to cherish.”
Sunita, an Opportunity Health Entrepreneur providing health education in Bihar India
School improvement loans keep girls in school longer
School improvement loans, provided by Opportunity EduFinance partners, are used by schools to improve infrastructure – including adding toilets or increasing the number of toilets. There is a direct link to the availability of girls’ toilets, and their ability to attend school once they start menstruating. Without girls’ toilets, girls miss up to 50 days a year of school, causing many to be held back, or drop out of school entirely.
How you can help alleviate period poverty
It costs just $10 to reach one household with critical health education, including menstrual health knowledge. Will you join Opportunity in tackling period poverty?
Learn more about our Health Program here and how you can help Opportunity provide essential health and sanitation knowledge to communities living in poverty.