STUDY RATIONALE
Social acceptance is essential to ensuring appropriate use of WatSan facilities and services, yet given the lack of knowledge amongst women and girls in low-income settings of what menstruation is, and means from a biological perspective, this presents a persistent challenge. In addition, voices of the women expected to use menstrual hygiene facilities are largely absent from any discussion of what is required, and what should be assembled to best suit their needs. As a result, the quality and sufficiency of gender-specific sanitation and hygiene facilities in MSF-OCA health structures fall short. A deeper understanding of the knowledge, attitudes and practice of women with regards to menstrual hygiene management is important to increase uptake and effectiveness of gender-specific WatSan facilities in health structures:

• What is known and understood about menstrual health amongst women and girls?
• What are the main barriers preventing women and girls from properly managing their menstruation in health structures?
• What do women and girls currently do and use to manage menstruation in health structures?
• What roles do men play in decision making around MHM practices in the household?

In addressing these questions, this study aims to describe the scope of MHM knowledge, perceptions and practices in MSF health structures, and define the key requirements for an informative and effective system for implementing best practice amongst staff, patients and caretakers in these settings. Furthermore, the study provides an opportunity to improve knowledge and awareness for women and girls attending heath structures, and help explain attitudes influenced by specific cultural beliefs.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
To establish the degree to which sanitation and hygiene facilities at MSF heath structures meet
the requirements of menstruating women.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES
1. To understand and describe attitudes, behaviour and knowledge around MHM
2. To identify gaps and barriers contributing to poor MHM in health structures
3. To ascertain preferences of hygiene materials.

Science Portal

Research protocol - Exploring Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) systems, practices and perceptions in selected MSF health structures: a mixed method study