Sexual and Reproductive Health

In impoverished settings, a lack of menstrual products can affect the health and educational experience of schoolgirls. Countries such as Kenya aim to improve menstrual health by providing single-use disposable sanitary pads; however, these are expensive and difficult to distribute, and create waste pollution in schools.

Prof Penelope Phillips-Howard's research into Kenyan schoolgirls shows that menstrual cups were able to reduce STI and bacterial vaginosis, maintaining 'healthy bacteria' compared to the use of other sanitary products. Also, one menstrual cup can last for 10 years, making it a healthier and sustainable alternative to pads.

Her team will now disseminate these findings internationally with the Menstrual Cup Coalition to develop menstrual cup factsheets and training for multi-sector partners. Kenyan national menstrual health leaders plan to update menstrual practice guidelines and support draft policies on menstrual cup provision to schoolgirls.

Workshops with teachers involved in the trial in Siaya County will utilise their experiences to draft guidance on menstrual health and menstrual cup use. All documentation will be disseminated for wider programmatic use, including at national and regional levels. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews will be used to document knowledge exchange from the dissemination activities, and will be written up and published.