Considering Sustainable Solutions to Combat Period Poverty in Nigeria

Toilet papers are supplied in bathrooms, so should feminine products. – Laura Rathbone

Introduction

Amidst the pretext of supposedly effervescent girls who go about their daily lives problem-free, lies the harsh reality of inadequate Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and low access to sanitation and hygiene facilities; taking a toll on the physical and psychological life and education of the girl child in Nigeria.

Period poverty is a major health concern which affects women without access to menstrual products due to its unavailability or unaffordability. It garnered media attention globally when a ten-year-old child in the United Kingdom was reported to have used a sock wrapped in toilet roll during her menstruation because her mother was unable to afford sanitary pads.

In Nigeria, the case is not much different as about 44% of Nigerian women and girls experience period poverty and cannot afford sanitary pads. Despite this flaw, access to clean water and sanitation in fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goal 6 is not guaranteed, highlighting the need for urgent intervention by State parties, corporate bodies, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and even individuals.

Thus, it is imperative for us to have discussions around the stumbling blocks to eradicating period poverty in Nigeria. These discussions should be geared towards proffering solutions to period poverty and education as well as implementing policies and initiatives that encourages and incentivizes women to achieve optimum guidance, education and protection of their menstrual hygiene. First, let’s talk about period poverty and its current factors and challenges in Nigeria.

Period Poverty: A Global Public Health Epidemic

Every Nigerian citizen has a right to good healthcare facilities, inclusive of which is menstrual hygiene. Akin to this right, particularly as it affects women, is the right to clean water and appropriate facilities, the absence of which is fatal in the lives of women but has long been overlooked.

Period poverty has been defined by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as the struggle many low-income women and girls face while trying to afford menstrual products such as tampons, underwear, pain medication, and so on. It is global community health dilemma that affects at least one in three girls, and has been described as having insufficient access to menstrual products, education and sanitation facilities which subjects women to injustice and may impact their education and future.

The history of periods and menstruation is shrouded in myths, unacceptable practices and patriarchal standards, all of which are seen in a negative light. Unsurprisingly, these myths though slightly watered down, still pervade our society today, making lives uncomfortable for menstruating women and girls who are still viewed as ‘unclean’ and ‘impure’ in some parts of Nigeria.

For instance, some religious groups view the period of menstruation as an unclean period, and place women in isolation, preventing people from interacting with them lest the ‘impurity’ rubs off on them. (Al-Quran 2:222-223), (Leviticus 15:19-30).

See also: Technology as a Global Tool for Creating Equal Opportunities for Women

Unfortunately, this position which permeates traditional society today reveals that little concern for women who experience menstrual cramps. The society’s negative disposition supercedes the rights of women to proper healthcare facilities, accentuating the need for prompt discussions and solutions to this global epidemic to better the lives of Nigerian women.

As a global issue, a myriad of factors permeate its prevalence which I comprehensively discussed below:

We cannot talk about period poverty without addressing the high cost of period products and the financial constraints of indigent Nigerians. Presently, the cost of sanitary products ranges from N700 to N1200, approximately 4% of the minimum wage salary an average Nigerian earns. This financial barrier has compelled a number of women to forego sanitary pads in order to save cost, thereby exposing them to the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, a life-threatening complication of a bacterial infection incurred by using unsanitary clothes or tissue.

In an interview with Her Network, Chioma Nwigwe, Founder of Safety For Every Girl (SFEG), recounted the story of a teacher who, despite her salary of N35,000 could not afford menstrual health products (MHPs). This demonstrates how financial impecuniousness contributes to period poverty in Nigeria, seeing that due to the high cost of MHPs caused by inflation and Naira depreciation, women have resorted to using pads for longer periods than recommended, and seeking for alternatives like socks, tissue, leaves, etc., which has the propensity of causing health problems.

Despite the fact that MHPs are essential for female healthy development, the high cost of MHP coupled with the indigent situation of over 50% of the population of Nigerian women has added to the growing number of women who experience period poverty.

Inadequate Information on MHM is another factor. This point was raised when I did a little fieldwork for the purpose of this article. I interviewed Yadera Ukaigwe, a law student and Event Host. Yadera stated that there is limited information on menstruation that stems from the reluctance of people to openly discuss MHM. A study conducted by Dr. Christina Curry (2017) with 4,202 participants revealed that the information received in schools about menstruation was basic biology and nothing practical, and it came too late reaching students after their puberty years. (Kaskamanidis, 2022).

In Nigeria, a survey organised in Ile-Ife showed that 40% of the girls were deficient in knowledge of menstruation, while 84% were not psychologically prepared for their first menstruation. (Abioye-Kuteyi, 2021). These surveys show the acute need for psychological preparation and education of girls for menstruation well ahead of their menarche.

To address this challenge, a synergistic effort amongst parents, educational institutions, and community organizations, to educate boys and girls on MHM – how to use sanitary towels, pads, tampons, etc. – would be pivotal in combating period poverty in Nigeria. Most importantly, these materials should be available and accessible to girls who would be on need of it to.

The issue of menstrual stigma can be seen through the lens of Hold Baci, a Chef and former Guinness World Record Holder, who received public criticism for participating in the competition while menstruating. (Sulaimon, 2023) The deep-rooted stigma targeted at menstruation prevents women from openly discussing this topic, such that when faced with complications, they would be reluctant to seek help and would rather suffer in silence.

Research carried out Initial Washroom Hygiene confirms the negative stigma surrounded by menstrual hygiene particularly at workplaces. 32% of male officers acquiesced that period discussions in the workplace are unprofessional, while 53% of women claimed that they would be reluctant to discuss period-symptoms with their manager. (OBeirne, 2019). Unfortunately, this is true for many Nigerian women in their respective work environments.

Period Poverty Panacea: A Nostrum for Restoring Women’s Dignity

Improving menstrual health in schoolgirls can lead to long-lasting effects on women’s overall education, health and wellbeing. – Helen Weiss

In the words of Chioma Nwigwe, “no one should ever have to experience the indignity of period poverty and no girl should miss out on education as a result.” This section highlights my proposals for combating period poverty in Nigeria.

Adoption of Sustainable and Reusable Menstrual Products

It is not in doubt that disposable sanitary products are recurring expenses with a monthly lifespan, which is not financially sustainable for indigent women.

Additionally, disposal of pads sometimes proves to be a problem in that some women ignorantly flush them down the toilet or wrongly dispose them, both of which have harmful environmental effects.

Thus, sustainable products should be introduced into the feminine market to enable women cut costs while simultaneously protecting themselves during menstruation. Sanitary pads made from eco-friendly materials like rayon, cotton and polyester with absorbent capacity should be adopted and distributed to women as against disposable pads, because they are economically and environmentally friendly, and have a longer lifespan than disposable pads.

Introduction of Period Apprenticeship Programs

Apprenticeship programs are effective ways to build careers and earn income. The Federal Government (FG), through the Federal Ministry of Health, should encourage transfer of technology and knowledge programs for women in rural areas to manufacture sustainable period products for use.

The FG through international collaboration can provide high quality materials for making the products and send delegates to learn the trade from persons knowledgeable in the area.

For instance, in Samoa, two female entrepreneurs – Angelica Sale and Isabella Rasch – founded a start-up (MANA Care Products) to make affordable, sustainable and reusable cotton female hygiene products as an alternative to disposable pads. Few innovators can be sent to Samoa to learn the production methods for a period of time, and return to train women in rural areas on how to produce the pads using the materials provided by the FG. Afterwards, they can take on a cohort of women apprentices to increase knowledge of the trade and economic viability for women in rural communities.

Incorporating Menstrual Education into Secondary School Curriculum

Just like physical health education are being taught in secondary schools, the Federal Ministry of Education should introduce menstrual health education in school curriculum.

Furthermore, secondary and tertiary institutions can establish in addition to debate and science clubs, feminine hygiene clubs to provide girls with practical knowledge of menstruation information, and provide for teenagers, a physical community with the opportunity to be mentored by adults in the club on what they need to know about menstruation. These Clubs can advocate to the school for free sustainable pads to be provided for student members.

Legislative Action

Recognizing the need to provide a solution to menstrual challenges, Scotland enacted the Period Product (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 which ensures that everyone who menstruates shall have reasonable access to period products, where necessary, at no cost at all.

The Period Products in Schools (Scotland) Regulations also places a duty on local authorities and grant-aided schools to provide free products to students. Borrowing a leaf from Scotland, countries like New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, and so on, have enacted similar laws. The Nigerian parliament should follow suit. Also, the FG should in anticipation of the Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28) embark on nationwide awareness campaign on the importance of MHM to grassroot levels in rural areas.

Understanding menstrual cycle is the missing key in the wellbeing and creativity of women – Claire Baker

Conclusion

An article by Crystal Jackson explained the importance of eliminating period poverty. She recounted her experience as a student where a number of days were spent in anxiety. Do you know why? It is because she had no access to period products and had to use tissue instead. This made her unable to concentrate in school and at work, because every minute was spent wondering if she was ‘leaking’. (Jackson, 2023).

Many Nigerian women can relate to this story. If we fail to curb period poverty, women won’t be able to concentrate properly, which may hinder productivity of a company and have retrospective effect on a country. The facilities need to be provided so more women can live worry-free lives, concentrate and participate effectively in school, at work, and in life.

Menstruation is not the problem; poor menstrual hygiene is. – Anurag Chauhan

Reference

Abioye-Kuteyi, E. A. (2000, April 17). Menstrual Knowledge and Practice Among Secondary School Girls in Ile Ife, Nigeria. The Journal of the Royal Society the Promotion of Health 120(1):23-6.

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, August 12) Toxic Shock Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. here.

Ezeama, N. (2023, June 6) Menstrual Poverty: Expert Says 44% of Nigerian Woman and Girls Cannot Afford N500 Sanitary Pad. here.

Global Citizen. (2021, September 30). Free Period Products in Countries. here.

Hafiz Jaafar, Suraya Yasmin Ismail, & Amirah Azzeri. (2022, June 11) Period Poverty: A Neglected Public Health Issue. here.

Her Network. (2024, February 7). Combating Period Poverty. here.

Jackson, C. (2023, April 12) My Struggle With Period Poverty Motivated Me to Help Other Women. here.

Obeirne, S. (219, November 19) Period in the Workplace: A Topic Deemed Unprofessional by One-Third of Male Office Workers. here.

Salem, J. (2018, June 3). Meet the Samoan Businesswoman Who is Making Sanitary Products More Sustainable. here.

Schofield, D. (2019, November 6) How period poverty in the UK is preventing girls from going to school. here.

Sulaimon, A. (2023, June 8) Backlash as Hilda Baci Reveals Being on Her Period During the Cook-a-thon. Here/

UNFPA (2022, May 23) Menstruation and Human Rights – Frequently Asked Questions. here.

Zoe Kaskamanidis. (2022, August 17) Improving Menstrual Health Education in Schools. here.

---

About Author