Pilot testing and evaluation of a toolkit for menstrual hygiene management in emergencies in three refugee camps in Northwest Tanzania
This toolkit was tested in 3 camps hosting Burundian and Congolese refugees in Northwest Tanzania
Abstract
Displaced adolescent girls and women face many challenges managing their monthly menstrual flow with dignit yand comfort in various challenging settings around the world, such as refugee camps, informal settlements, andwhile in transit across geographies as they flee disaster or conflict. Menstrual hygiene management requires easy access to safe, private water and sanitation facilities, along with appropriate menstrual materials and supplies, discreet disposal and waste management, and basic information on menstrual hygiene for displacement contexts. Yet, a significant gap exists in terms of available guidance on effective, coordinated multi-sectoral approaches for a complete menstrual hygiene management response.
This paper describes one effort to address this gap, the development and pilot testing of the Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergencies Toolkit in 3 camps hosting Burundian and Congolese refugees in Northwest Tanzania.
This paper is an output of the ‘Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC)’ programme.
Citation
M. Sommer, M. Schmitt, T. Ogello, P. Mathenge, M. Mark, D. Clatworthy, S. Khandakji, R. Ratnayake. Pilot testing and evaluation of a toolkit for menstrual hygiene management in emergencies in three refugee camps in Northwest Tanzania. Journal of International Humanitarian Action (2018) 3:6 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-018-0034-7