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A Study of Environmentally Friendly Menstrual Absorbents in the Context of Social Change for Adolescent Girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Jasmin Foster

    (Abbotsleigh School, Sydney, NSW 2076, Australia)

  • Paul Montgomery

    (School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK)

Abstract

Girls in low- and middle-income countries struggle to maintain good menstrual hygiene in part due to a lack of affordable sanitary products. The unaffordability of reliable sanitary products can lead to school absenteeism and is a barrier to education attainment and gender equality for girls in low-income contexts. Further, the lack of adequate disposal facilities can lead to social embarrassment and environmental pollution. Low-cost biodegradable absorbents (cotton terry cloth, linen, hemp cloth and bamboo wadding) were investigated in gelatine solution in terms of their absorption for use in menstrual hygiene. Bamboo wadding exhibits the highest absorption index (7.86), greater than cotton terry cloth (0.84), hemp cloth (1.4), linen (1.57) and a commercial sanitary pad (4.38). Though the absorption index of bamboo wadding is promising, especially in light of the vast availability of bamboo in tropical low- and middle-income countries, challenges lie in overcoming complex extraction processes from bamboo plants, which is discussed. This simple research of a physical material from a technical aspect, if further investigated with a social science and policy lens, could increase school attendance, improve the education levels attained by girls and be a key step towards gender equality in low- and middle-income countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Jasmin Foster & Paul Montgomery, 2021. "A Study of Environmentally Friendly Menstrual Absorbents in the Context of Social Change for Adolescent Girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9766-:d:636975
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Catherine S. Dolan & Caitlin R. Ryus & Sue Dopson & Paul Montgomery & Linda Scott, 2014. "A Blind Spot In Girls' Education: Menarche And Its Webs Of Exclusion In Ghana," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(5), pages 643-657, July.
    2. Myles F. Elledge & Arundati Muralidharan & Alison Parker & Kristin T. Ravndal & Mariam Siddiqui & Anju P. Toolaram & Katherine P. Woodward, 2018. "Menstrual Hygiene Management and Waste Disposal in Low and Middle Income Countries—A Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Julie Hennegan & Paul Montgomery, 2016. "Do Menstrual Hygiene Management Interventions Improve Education and Psychosocial Outcomes for Women and Girls in Low and Middle Income Countries? A Systematic Review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, February.
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