Menstrual hygiene

Among women whose most recent menstrual period was in the last year, percentage who used specified materials to collect or absorb blood from the most recent menstrual period; and among women whose most recent menstrual period was in the last year and were at home during their last menstrual period, percentage who were able to wash and change in privacy while at home and percentage who were able to both wash and change in privacy and who used appropriate materials during their last menstruation

Definition

1)      Percentage of women age 15-49 whose most recent menstrual period was in the last year and who used specified materials to collect or absorb blood from their most recent menstrual period

2)      Percentage of women age 15-49 whose most recent menstrual period was in the last year and who were able to wash and change in privacy at home during their last menstrual period

3)      Percentage of women age 15-49 whose most recent menstrual period was in the last year and who were able to wash and change in privacy at home during their last menstrual period and who used appropriate materials during last menstruation

Coverage:

Population base: Women age 15-49 with their most recent menstrual period in the last year (IR file)

Time period: Preceding one year prior to the survey

Numerators:

1)      Number of women by use of specified materials to collect or absorb blood (v247a-v247x)

2)      Number of women who able to change in privacy (v248 = 1)

3)      Number of women who able to change in privacy and who used appropriate materials during their last menstruation (v248 = 1 & any v247a-v247g = 1)

Denominators:

1) and 2) Number of women whose most recent menstrual period was in the last year (v215 in 100:399)

3) Number of women whose most recent menstrual period was in the last year and who were home during their last menstrual period (v215 in 100:399 & v248 in 0:1)

Variables: IR file.

Calculation

Numerator divided by denominator, multiplied by 100.

Notes and Considerations

Women who had their last menstrual period more than 12 months ago and those who reported they are in menopause/had a hysterectomy, never menstruated, or had their last menstrual period before their last pregnancy are excluded from the denominator.

Appropriate materials for collecting or absorbing menstrual blood are reusable sanitary pads, disposable sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cup, cloth, toilet paper, and/or cotton wool.

Changes over Time

Collection of information on menstrual hygiene began in DHS-8.

References

Core questions on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for household surveys: 2018 update. New York: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization, 2018.

https://washdata.org/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2019-03/JMP-2018-core-questions-for-household-surveys.pdf

Resources

DHS-8 Tabulation plan: Table 16.12

API Indicator IDs:

WS_MHYG_W_RSP, WS_MHYG_W_DSP, WS_MHYG_W_TAM, WS_MHYG_W_CUP, WS_MHYG_W_CLT, WS_MHYG_W_TLP,

WS_MHYG_W_COT, WS_MHYG_W_UWO, WS_MHYG_W_OTH, WS_MHYG_W_NON, WS_MHYG_W_PRV, WS_MHYG_W_PRA

(API link, STATcompiler link)

MICS Indicator WS.12: Menstrual hygiene management