A groundbreaking new study from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London demonstrates that in rural Uganda, providing free sanitary products and lessons about puberty increases girl’s attendance at school.
AFRIpads donated over 1000 deluxe menstrual kits to the study in partnership with SOAS and Plan International. The study found that on average, girl’s attendance increased by 17 per cent, which equates to 3.4 days out of every 20 days. This is a significant finding not just for AFRIpads, but for the menstrual hygiene management sector as a whole.
“Girls attendance increased by 17 per cent, which equates to 3.4 days out of every 20 days.”
Though we know that the barriers girls face while menstruating have a significant impact on a girl’s educational success, the complexity of directly linking menstruation to school attendance has been difficult. This study provides a critical empirical evidence that will help organizations and governments alike leverage more funding and resources for menstrual hygiene management in the future.
Organizations including CARE and UNICEF as well as government bodies including the Ghanaian Ministry of Education have already made use of the research findings to lobby for more funding for programs that provide free sanitary napkins to schools.
AFRIpads was founded in 2009 in response to the challenges girls face in schools while on their periods. This study is just the latest piece in the growing body of evidence that fuels our mission at AFRIpads.
