Empower Women and Girls through Menstrual Health

Menstrual hygiene remains a critical public health concern, particularly in developing countries, where it significantly impacts women's health, education, and economic participation. In Burkina Faso, three out of four women face substantial challenges in managing their menstrual health due to limited access to menstrual products, inadequate education, and persistent social stigma.These barriers are further exacerbated by economic constraints and cultural norms, contributing to school and workplace absenteeism and reinforcing cycles of gender inequality and poverty.

This study aims to explore how menstrual health challenges evolve into adulthood and influence broader social roles among young women aged 18 and above in Burkina Faso. Employing a dual-phase qualitative methodology including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys.The research engaged 90 women and 15 men across urban, peri-urban, and rural settings.The objective is to uncover the cultural, economic, and social factors that shape menstrual hygiene practices and to inform the development of inclusive and context-sensitive public health strategies.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our partners, whose support has been instrumental in enabling this research. Their collaboration and commitment have played a vital role in advancing the objectives of this initiative.

• Population Services International (PSI) – for their financial support
• TIKO SOLUTIONS, an implementing partner of the project
• Dr. Mahesh – Associate Professor, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
• Sarah Vincent – Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
• Dr. Catalina – Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Rodrigue – PhD student in Demography, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougo.

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