Menstruation & the SDGs

Summary

This presentation discusses the connection between menstruation and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in relation to poverty, health, education, and gender equality, focusing on Uganda. It highlights how inadequate menstrual health management negatively impacts these areas. Examples include lack of access to menstrual products leading to school absenteeism, social isolation, and increased risk of health issues. The speaker emphasizes the need for broader societal change, involvement of men, and governmental support to address period poverty and help achieve the SDGs.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by world leaders in 2015, with 17 goals addressing global issues like poverty, health, and education.
• 🤝 The SDGs are a universal endeavor, aiming to include both low-income countries like Uganda and high-income countries like Denmark.
• 💡 Menstrual health management is closely tied to many SDGs, particularly in terms of poverty, health, education, and gender equality.
• 💸 Poverty impacts menstruation, with people often unable to afford quality menstrual products, leading to the use of unsanitary alternatives.
• 🩸 In some countries, including Uganda, menstruating individuals resort to extreme measures like selling food rations to buy pads, or even undergoing procedures like uterine removal in India due to work conditions.
• 👩‍⚕️ Poor menstrual health is linked to health risks like infections, transactional sex (which increases HIV risk), and pain that goes untreated due to shame.
• 🏫 Education is heavily affected by menstruation, with studies showing higher absenteeism and lack of participation from girls during their periods, especially in Uganda.
• 💬 Gender equality issues are highlighted, with menstruation being tied to early marriages and financial pressures on families to marry off their daughters to reduce costs.
• 🙍‍♀️ Shame and fear surrounding menstruation are pervasive, but involving men in the conversation can help challenge these stigmas and create a sense of freedom for girls and women.
• 📈 Addressing menstruation and period poverty is critical to achieving SDGs, especially in countries like Uganda, where government leaders have acknowledged the importance of the issue.

Q & A

What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals adopted by world leaders in 2015. They aim to address major global issues such as poverty, health, education, and environmental sustainability. The goals apply to all countries, from low-income nations like Uganda to high-income ones like Denmark.

How is menstruation related to the SDGs?

Menstruation is linked to many of the SDGs, particularly in how inadequate menstrual health management negatively affects them. Examples include impacts on poverty, health, education, and gender equality. Proper menstrual health management is essential for achieving several of the goals.

How does poverty affect menstrual health management?

Poverty limits access to quality menstrual products, forcing people to use unsafe alternatives like corn cobs, old newspapers, or even nothing at all. This can lead to infections, social isolation, and other health issues. In some cases, like in Uganda, people sell food rations to buy pads, which highlights the desperation caused by the lack of affordable products.

What are some examples of how menstrual health management impacts people in different countries?

In the UK, poor girls are provided free pads to help them stay in school. In Uganda, refugees only receive menstrual products for the first three months. In Bangladesh, factory workers take hormonal contraceptives to stop menstruation and keep working. In India, some sugarcane cutters have their uterus removed to avoid menstrual pain.

How is menstruation linked to health and the risk of HIV transmission?

Menstruation is linked to health issues like transactional sex, where girls may exchange sex for money or favors due to financial desperation. This increases the risk of HIV transmission. Additionally, many women stop using contraceptives due to concerns about menstrual irregularities, which can further complicate family planning and health outcomes.

How does menstruation affect education in Uganda?

Menstruation affects school attendance in Uganda, with girls missing 28% of school days during their periods compared to 7% on non-period days. Moreover, 64.7% of girls avoid participating in class during menstruation due to fear of ridicule if they leak or smell, which significantly hampers their education.

What is 'period poverty' and how does it affect Uganda’s SDGs?

Period poverty refers to the lack of access to affordable menstrual products. This issue affects Uganda's ability to meet the SDGs, particularly in terms of gender equality, health, and education. Government leaders, including the Minister of Higher Education, have acknowledged that addressing period poverty is essential for achieving the SDGs.

How does menstruation relate to gender equality and child marriage in Uganda?

Menstruation is often viewed as a sign that girls are ready for marriage in Uganda, which can lead to child marriage. Some parents are eager to pass on the financial burden of caring for a girl, including the cost of menstrual products, to a husband. This contributes to gender inequality and early marriage.

Why is involving men in menstrual health management important?

Involving men in menstrual health management is important because it helps reduce the stigma and shame associated with menstruation. Many men are curious and willing to support girls and women, which can lead to a greater sense of freedom and agency for both genders.

What emotions do girls express regarding menstruation and how does addressing menstrual issues affect them?

Girls often express feelings of fear and shame related to menstruation, but when menstrual issues are addressed, they speak about experiencing freedom. This freedom allows them to engage in everyday activities like riding bikes, going to school, and spending time with friends, which enhances their overall well-being.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The SDGs and Menstruation: A Global Connection

The speaker introduces the concept of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted in 2015 to address global issues like poverty, health, and education. These goals are universal and apply to both low-income countries like Uganda and high-income nations like Denmark. The speaker emphasizes how inadequate menstrual health management impacts nearly all 17 SDGs, but focuses on select goals in the context of Uganda. The conversation begins with poverty and its direct impact on menstruation, linking menstrual products to economic constraints, especially in poorer nations.

05:01

💰 Menstrual Health and Poverty: A Vicious Cycle

The first SDG, poverty elimination, is deeply intertwined with menstruation. Traditional methods of managing menstruation, such as using corn husks or old newspapers, are still in use due to the high cost of commercial menstrual products. These methods often lead to infections, social isolation, and other health risks. In the UK, even in a wealthy country, poor girls receive free pads to stay in school. In Uganda, refugees must sell food rations to afford pads, and in other countries like Bangladesh and India, extreme measures like hormonal contraceptives or uterus removal are used to avoid menstruation and remain productive in jobs, highlighting desperation.

💊 Health Risks Tied to Menstruation and Poverty

The third SDG focuses on health, and menstruation-related poverty plays a critical role here too. Many girls engage in transactional sex to afford menstrual products, increasing their risk of HIV transmission. Additionally, menstrual irregularities caused by contraception can lead to women discontinuing family planning methods, exacerbating health risks. The stigma surrounding menstruation prevents girls from seeking medical help, especially for conditions like debilitating menstrual pain, which further impacts their well-being.

📚 Menstruation and Education: A Barrier to Learning

Menstruation significantly affects girls' education. In Uganda, studies show that 28% of girls miss school during their periods, compared to 7% on non-period days. Moreover, 64.7% of girls refrain from participating in class activities during menstruation due to the fear of being ridiculed if they leak or smell. This lack of participation is detrimental to their overall educational experience and learning outcomes, and it underscores the urgent need for addressing menstrual stigma and providing adequate menstrual health resources.

👩‍🦰 Gender Equality and Menstruation: Cultural and Economic Pressures

Gender equality, another key SDG, is closely linked to menstruation, especially in cultures where a girl's first period signals her readiness for marriage. In Uganda, parents often push for early marriages to shift the financial burden of caring for a girl, including buying menstrual products, onto her husband. The speaker also discusses how girls feel fear and shame around menstruation, but emphasizes the importance of involving men in addressing these challenges. Men’s support can help girls feel empowered, and both men and women can experience greater freedom and agency when menstruation-related stigma is overcome.

🚀 The Path Forward: Menstruation and the SDGs

The speaker concludes by reiterating the importance of addressing menstruation to achieve the SDGs. Menstruation is still a relatively new field of focus in global health and development, and there is much to learn. However, efforts like those in Uganda highlight the need for continued research and action. The speaker encourages further exploration of this topic, directing viewers to a link for more information, and expresses optimism about future progress.

Keywords

💡Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals established by world leaders in 2015 to address issues such as poverty, health, and education. These goals are interconnected, symbolized by a ring, and aim to improve life worldwide, including in both low-income and high-income countries. The video connects menstruation to the SDGs by showing how menstrual health impacts various goals, like poverty, education, and health.

💡Menstrual Health Management

Menstrual health management refers to the ability to manage menstruation hygienically and with dignity, using adequate products and sanitation. The video highlights how inadequate management affects women globally, particularly in low-income settings, leading to health risks, social isolation, and absenteeism from school and work. This concept is essential to understanding the broader impact menstruation has on achieving the SDGs.

💡Poverty

Poverty, as the first SDG, has a profound connection to menstrual health. Women in low-income countries often lack access to affordable menstrual products, forcing them to use unsafe alternatives like corn cobs or old newspapers. The video discusses how poverty-driven desperation can lead to selling food rations to afford menstrual pads or resorting to transactional sex for financial support.

💡Transactional Sex

Transactional sex refers to engaging in sexual activity in exchange for money, goods, or favors. In the context of the video, poverty-stricken girls and women sometimes resort to this to afford basic necessities, including menstrual products. This increases their vulnerability to health risks, including HIV, and highlights the intersection between poverty, menstrual health, and health-related SDGs.

💡Period Poverty

Period poverty refers to the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, handwashing facilities, and waste management, which affects many women and girls in low-income settings. The video connects period poverty to broader issues like school absenteeism and social isolation, emphasizing its impact on achieving gender equality and educational goals within the SDGs.

💡Health (SDG 3)

Health is the third SDG and relates to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being. In the video, menstrual health is tied to this goal, as inadequate access to menstrual products can lead to infections and other health problems. Furthermore, the video addresses the emotional and physical health impacts, like debilitating menstrual pain, which girls often avoid discussing with healthcare professionals due to stigma.

💡Education

Education, another SDG, is closely affected by menstruation, particularly in low-income countries. The video mentions studies from Uganda showing that girls often miss school due to menstruation, either because they can't afford products or fear ridicule. This impacts their participation and academic performance, thus hindering progress toward achieving educational equality.

💡Gender Equality (SDG 5)

Gender equality, the fifth SDG, aims to eliminate discrimination and inequality between men and women. The video highlights the role menstruation plays in deepening gender inequalities, such as girls being forced into early marriage when they start menstruating or facing social stigma. Empowering women and ensuring access to menstrual products is shown as essential for advancing gender equality.

💡Shame and Stigma

Shame and stigma surrounding menstruation are prevalent themes in the video. Many girls experience shame related to menstrual leaks or odors, leading to social isolation and reduced participation in education and public life. The video stresses that addressing this stigma is crucial for empowering women and girls, with many men showing interest in becoming champions for menstrual health.

💡Access to Menstrual Products

Access to menstrual products is a recurring issue in the video, as it is vital for proper menstrual health management. In many low-income settings like Uganda, girls and women either can't afford products or must trade essential goods like food to buy them. This lack of access not only affects health but also ties into broader socioeconomic issues like poverty and education.

Highlights

Introduction to the connection between menstruation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Explanation of the 17 SDGs, which address issues like poverty, health, and education, and their universal relevance across countries.

Focus on the connection between menstruation and poverty, particularly how inadequate menstrual health management can negatively impact the first SDG, poverty elimination.

Discussion on the challenges of accessing good quality menstrual products, which can lead to infections, leakage, and social isolation.

Examples of how menstrual products are a financial burden in both rich and poor countries, such as the UK providing free pads to girls and Ugandan refugees selling food rations to buy pads.

Mention of factory workers in Bangladesh using hormonal contraceptives to stop menstruation to avoid work disruptions.

Highlighting the extreme measures taken by women in India, like having their uterus removed, to avoid menstrual complications while working.

Connection between menstruation, health, and the risk of HIV transmission due to transactional sex driven by financial desperation.

Discussion on the discontinuation of contraception due to concerns about side effects, including menstrual irregularities.

Statistics on school attendance in Uganda, where girls miss 28% of school days during their periods.

The impact of menstruation on participation in education, with many girls avoiding participation in class during their periods due to fear of ridicule.

Recognition by Ugandan government officials of the importance of addressing period poverty to achieve the SDGs.

The relationship between menstruation, gender equality, and child marriage, with examples from Uganda.

Mention of the involvement of men in addressing menstruation issues, with some men becoming champions for change.

Conclusion emphasizing the need for continued research and action in the field of menstruation to help achieve the SDGs.

Transcripts

okay

hello everyone i'm so happy to be here

to talk with you about the connections

between

menstruation and the sustainable

development goals or

sdgs the sdgs were adopted by world

leaders in 2015.

there are 17 goals related to poverty

health education etc

and they are often represented by a ring

like you see here

to show how they are interconnected uh

they cover the whole world that is they

they cover countries like uganda which

is a low-income country but also

high-income countries like denmark

so to me this is a little bit moving

actually to have such a

universal endeavor we are in this

together

but what does that have to do with

menstruation

we could probably show how inadequate

menstrual health

management negatively affects just about

all of the 17 sdgs

but here we will suggest we will select

excuse me

just a few and focus on uganda

so let's start with poverty

poverty elimination is the first sdg

goal and with good reason it affects

everything it really is a ring

but why is that important for

menstruation well

people will have always menstruated and

traditionally they have used products

which cost

nothing corn carbs old newspaper

isolation in a special hut or nothing

if they can't afford onto pets where to

put they can put the products

however traditional is not always ideal

and in this case traditional is

associated with infections with leakage

with social isolation

and so good quality menstrual products

are costly no matter whether they're

homemade or commercial let me give a few

examples

in the uk poor girls are given free pads

to keep them in school and this is the

uk

a rich country in uganda reports from

one refugee settlement are

that refugees receive menstrual products

but they do so only for the first three

months after they arrive

after that they continue to receive food

rations every month

but they need cash so they take those

food rations to market

and sell them for four dollars then they

use

1.6 dollars to buy pads this is surely a

sign of desperation

since then they have no food and in

bangladesh

factory workers are reported to take

hormonal contraceptives to stop

menstruation

the pain and bleeding otherwise would

prevent them from working

and in india recent reports are that

sugarcane cutters

are resorting to having their uterus

removed

for the same reason

let's look at them at health the health

goal number three poverty also reaches

into that of course we all know or can

imagine

that transactional sex that is sex in

exchange for money or favors

can increase the risk of transmitting

hiv

yet there's quite a bit of evidence that

girls resort to it

if they have no other source of cash

and the younger and the poor the higher

the risk

there's also connection to family

planning a large number of women

discontinued

contraception because they're concerned

about side effects

and that includes menstrual

irregularities

which are actually quite common for

example

long-acting hormonals cause spotting

and then sexist forbidden so they can't

afford that

and of course again a major problem is

pain

debilitating pain dyspinaria but girls

are ashamed

to go see their doctors for menstrual

problems like that

let's look at education there are many

many studies which look at how

menstruation affects

school attendance and the levels very

grating

here's just one from uganda which finds

that

girls miss school 28 that's more than a

quarter on period days

versus seven percent on non-period days

and perhaps just as important as

absenteeism is participation

another study from uganda found that

64.7

of girls avoided standing up in class

to answer questions during their periods

and that is of course a very important

part of participation in ugandan schools

and the reason was that they

feared that they would be ridiculed by

classmates

if they spotted or smelled now this has

not gone unnoticed

by government leaders for example the

honorable minister of higher education

in uganda

john cruz said if nothing is done

to end period poverty uganda will

struggle

to meet the esdts

let's look at gender and equality

let me give a few examples of this

pretty complex issue

government leaders are also very aware

of the issue of child

marriage president museveni of uganda

notes that parents think their daughters

are ready for marriage

when they start menstruating and he

holds for a change in attitude

and momentus and other studies indicate

that parents are

eager the reason of one reason for this

is that parents are eager to pass on the

cost

of caring for a girl to a new

breadwinner her husband

including the classifying pads

but some of the most compelling evidence

to my mind is to hear girls talk about

fear and shame related to menstruation

they talk about that in every sentence

when you ask them about their experience

now shame does not exist only in the

mind of the girl

it's also in the minds of her

surroundings that's one reason that

romana places great value on the

involvement of men

and we find actually that men are many

men are very curious

and very willing to take on a new role

as champions to help girls and women

and girls go from speaking about fear

and shame

to talking repeatedly about freedom

freedom to ride a bike

to go to school to be with their friends

so actually both males and females are

feeling more agency

and freedom that brings a smile

to my face and i hope it does to yours

so these were just a few points as the

honorable minister said

helping solve the issue of menstruation

is

important for the sdgs now this is a

young

field and much is still unknown we give

a link

on the on the slide to a

frequently asked question a note that we

have done which has

much more detail and i hope to see you

in that space

thank you very much bye-bye