Breaking the Cycle: Tackling Period Poverty in Nigeria with Innovative Solutions

Period poverty, often perceived solely through an economic lens, encompasses multifaceted challenges that extend beyond financial constraints. In truth, it possesses social, political, as well as economic dimensions. According to [1], period poverty (also called menstrual poverty) can be defined as the limited or total lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products and facilities during monthly periods, as well as a lack of access to adequate menstrual hygiene education. While there is an obvious financial aspect to this definition, it also suggests that the issue of period poverty is heavily hinged on the lack of proper information surrounding the female body and menstruation.

Menstruation, colloquially referred to as period, is the process in which the uterus sheds blood and tissue through the vagina and is regarded as natural and healthy for girls and women of reproductive age. The first occurrence of this process is referred to as menarche and typically has an age range of 9 to 17 years in Nigeria, as disclosed in the findings of Fagbamigbe et. al. [2]. Menstruation is part of the menstrual cycle and may last for up to 2 to 7 days, with variations in flow intensity across different days. When a woman’s menstrual cycle naturally ceases, it is termed menopause. The average duration from menarche to menopause spans approximately 37.5 years.

Period poverty presents many challenges that women must overcome. To adequately address this issue, it is necessary to examine its challenges which will serve as a roadmap for identifying potential solutions.

It is reasonable to assert that the primary factor driving period poverty is the inability to afford menstrual products due to limited financial resources. In 2021, it was reported that more than 37 million Nigerian girls and women of menstruating age lacked access to menstrual products due to financial constraints [3]. Women of low-income households and inhabitants of rural areas are often forced to choose between purchasing either food items or menstrual products. The latter, which should be regarded as a basic necessity, is usually overlooked. As a result, women resort to makeshift materials such as rags, tissue paper, leaves, and DIY menstrual pads. These alternatives are often unsanitary and can be breeding grounds for bacteria leading to health issues such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis which may result in infertility or birth complications. To avoid this financial burden, some women prefer to get pregnant rather than deal with their periods. Young girls are also forced to engage in unsavoury acts with men just so they can afford period products.

Regarding policy, a concept referred to as the ‘Pink Tax’ deals with taxes placed on feminine hygiene products. When this tax applies specifically to menstrual products, it is called ‘The Menstrual Tax.’ This sort of tax indiscriminately marks up the prices of goods and services marketed to women. In February 2020, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced the exemption of locally manufactured menstrual health products from value-added tax (VAT) in an effort to alleviate the financial strain on women [4]. However, the effectiveness of this measure has been undermined by factors such as inflation and unstable foreign exchange rates. The average price of a pack of sanitary pads in Nigeria has surged from ?300-?400 in 2018 to ?700-?1000 in 2024. Considering that an average woman typically requires about four packs for a single period, it is evident how these inflated prices can hinder access to these products resulting in significant distress.

Even when these menstrual products are accessible, there are still some barriers to their use. Take for example, the tampon, which might be a better fit for female athletes or physically active women. The tampon, however, is looked upon unfavourably due to the cultural belief in the ‘myth of the hymen.’ This implies that inserting a tampon results in the breaking of the hymen, leading to the perception of a woman losing her innocence. This loss of hymen is also the basis of virginity testing, a practice denounced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 as a human rights violation [5].

Attempts have been made in the past to pass a menstrual hygiene bill in Nigeria. For example, in 2018, a campaign was launched by a group of female social advocates on Twitter with the hashtag #EndThe9jaTaxOnPads in an attempt to advocate for the removal of taxes on sanitary products. In the same year, the group submitted a petition titled ‘An Appeal to End all the Taxes on Menstrual Hygiene Products and Pass the Menstrual Hygiene Bill’ to the National Assembly. The bill contained several provisions including a ‘Policy of Public Conveniences’ which would make it compulsory for public institutions to provide free sanitary pads in their restrooms [8]. However, the bill has not been passed to date.

In Nigeria, there is still a taboo or stigma surrounding the topic of menstruation. It is regarded as a thing of shame, and many cultures practice the act of isolating women during their periods as they are deemed dirty or unclean. This makes it difficult for young girls to learn about their periods. Most times, young girls who encounter their periods for the first time are often left distraught, confused, and outright frightened over what is and should be considered a natural bodily process. These all stem from a general ignorance about menstruation by both men and women. It is to the extent that some communities conflate menstruation for maturity and force their young daughters into marriage prematurely, thereby limiting their potential.

Another challenge of period poverty is the lack of access to water, hygiene, and sanitary (WASH) facilities. This, coupled with financial constraints, causes women, and young girls especially, to leave in their menstrual products beyond the recommended time leading to various health issues such as vaginal yeast infections with the side effect of bad odour. Over time, this could lead to more serious complications. The absence of WASH facilities also plays a significant role in absenteeism among schoolgirls. A UNESCO report reveals that one in ten Sub-Saharan African girls misses school during their period [6]. This could, in turn, affect their academic performance and limit their future opportunities. For women in the workforce, the lack of WASH facilities can affect their performance at work severely limiting their career progress.

Period poverty also has a negative impact on physical and mental wellbeing. About 75% of women of reproductive age suffer from a combination of menstrual-related ailments such as dysmenorrhea (severe cramps), heavy bleeding, bloating, lower back pain, headaches, fatigue, and severe mood swings [7]. The thought of having to deal with their periods often triggers feelings of anxiety and depression in many women. This also contributes to the issue of absenteeism among schoolgirls.

One aspect of period poverty that has only recently gained attention is the challenge of the safe disposal of menstrual products in an environmentally friendly manner. Menstrual products such as pads and tampons frequently incorporate materials like plastics or chemicals that harm the environment. When disposed of, these products often end up in landfills, where they degrade slowly, or they may enter water bodies, posing a threat to both human and aquatic life.

Given the complex nature of the challenges associated with period poverty, as discussed earlier, addressing them requires a variety of potential solutions that are both comprehensive and practical.

In November 2020, Scotland made history by becoming the first country in the world to provide free period products for all [9]. While this approach may not be immediately feasible in Nigeria, a good starting point would be to abolish all taxes placed on menstrual hygiene products, thus easing the financial burden on women. To take it a step further, government agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development can collaborate with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) sharing similar goals to provide free menstrual products to rural areas and schools.

This collaboration can also set up initiatives to educate the masses on menstrual health in order to break the taboos and stigma surrounding it. This can be achieved through school programmes, radio and television advertisements, social media campaigns, think tank initiatives, public forums and dialogues, as well as competitions. It is especially important that outreach programmes to schools and rural communities are established to provide adequate sensitization on matters surrounding women’s reproductive health. A good example of such an initiative is Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated annually on May 28 and founded by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2013. This initiative unites non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector, and the media to drive advocacy and action for menstrual hygiene [10].

Furthermore, the provision of WASH facilities in schools and public spaces will equip girls and women with the resources to care for their menstrual hygiene, potentially reducing the occurrence of menstrual health-related ailments like UTIs. This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which emphasises universal access to clean water and sanitation. This will also boost confidence and encourage their involvement and participation in social activities, whether at school, in the workplace, or other public settings.

Another solution to the financial aspect of period poverty involves the Federal Government of Nigeria subsidising the manufacture of locally made period products. This approach would not only eliminate the problem of import taxation but also ensure the availability of high-quality period products at a lower cost.

One potential approach to addressing period poverty worth exploring is implementing official leave days for menstruation in offices and schools. This initiative would provide schoolgirls and working women with the opportunity to recuperate from period-related ailments in the comfort of their homes, free from concerns about repercussions from school or work authorities.

Concerning the negative impact of menstrual products on the environment, a possible solution is the adoption of reusable sanitary pads and alternative period products such as the menstrual cup. Unlike their single-use counterparts, these can be reused for a significant amount of time thereby lessening their environmental impact.

Private citizens can also lend their support in the fight against period poverty by assisting their local communities through donations, participating in events, spreading awareness, and signing petitions advocating for the cause.

Menstrual poverty is not restricted to a lack of funds. It affects virtually all women in some form or another. This may manifest as insufficient financial resources to afford essential menstrual products, the challenges of navigating societal stigmas, or the discomfort of experiencing physical changes associated with menstruation. Nevertheless, every woman has the fundamental right to live a full and fulfilling life with safety and dignity. The head of human rights at menstrual hygiene education organization WASH United, Hannah Neumeyer, put it best when she said, “Women and girls have human rights, and they have periods. One should not defeat the other. [11]”

References

[1] Jaafar H, Ismail SY, Azzeri A. “Period Poverty: A Neglected Public Health Issue.”, Korean J Fam Med., 2023 Jul;44(4):183–188. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.22.0206. Epub May 16, 2023. PMID: 37189262; PMCID: PMC10372806. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10372806/#b8-kjfm-22-0206 [Accessed on Feb. 3, 2024].

[2] Fagbamigbe AF, Obiyan MO, Fawole OI., “Parametric survival analysis of menarche onset timing among Nigerian girls.”, Heliyon. Dec. 28, 2018;4(12):e01105. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e01105. PMID: 30603722; PMCID: PMC6310774. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6310774/ [Accessed on Feb. 4, 2024].

[3] Milcah Gaman, “Rags For Menstruation: The Harsh Reality Of Period Poverty In North East Nigeria”, HumAngle, Sept. 3, 2023. Available at: https://humanglemedia.com/rags-for-menstruation-the-harsh-reality-of-period-poverty-in-north-east-nigeria/ [Accessed on Feb. 4, 2024].

[4] Ross H and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. An economic assessment of menstrual hygiene ProductTax cuts [version 1; not peer reviewed]. Gates Open Res 2020, 4:137 (document) Available at: https://doi.org/10.21955/gatesopenres.1116672.1 [Accessed on Feb. 12, 2024].

[5] Sophia Smith Galer, “The sex myth that’s centuries old”, BBC Future, April 20, 2022. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220419-how-the-hymen-myth-destroys-lives [Accessed on Feb. 4, 2024].

[6] UNESCO, “Puberty education & menstrual hygiene management”, UNESDOC. Published in 2014 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. 7, place de Flontenoy, Paris. Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000226792 [Accessed on Feb. 11, 2024].

[7] Robert F. Casper, “Patient education: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) (Beyond the Basics)”, UpToDate, March 20, 2023. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/premenstrual-syndrome-pms-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd-beyond-the-basics [Accessed on Feb. 10, 2024].

[8] Anamelechi Chidinma, “PINK TAX AND THE FIGHT AGAINST TAMPON TAX IN NIGERIA.”, Medium, Jan. 23, 2022. Available at: https://medium.com/@anamelechichidinma/pink-tax-and-the-fight-against-tampon-tax-in-nigeria-65ee20fc65bf [Accessed on Feb. 4, 2024].

[9] Claire Diamond, “Period poverty: Scotland first in world to make period products free”, BBC Scotland News, Aug. 15, 2022. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51629880 [Accessed on Feb. 3, 2024].

[10] “Menstrual Hygiene Day: Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030”, 2023 menstrualhygieneday.org . Available at: https://menstrualhygieneday.org/ [Accessed on Feb. 12, 2024].

[11] Leah Rodriguez, “Period Poverty: Everything You Need to Know”, Global Citizen, Sept. 12, 2022. Available at: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/period-poverty-everything-you-need-to-know/ [Accessed on Feb. 3, 2024].