Education. Period. Developing an acceptable and replicable menstrual hygiene intervention

Five studies included only girls post-menarche.

“Five studies included only girls post-menarche.[18,32,45–47]”

The three hardware intervention trials differed in the products tested: one provided disposable sanitary pads, one self-made re-usable pads, and one reusable menstrual cups.

“The three hardware intervention trials differed in the products tested. One provided disposable sanitary pads,[18] one self-made re-usable pads,[32] and one reusable menstrual cups.[49]”

The quantity and quality of evidence on MHM and interventions are sparse.

“but the quantity and quality of evidence are sparse [11–14].”

Limitations of the few existing studies include small study size, challenges in assessing educational outcomes, and varying definitions of MHM practices.

“Limitations of the few existing studies include small study size and challenges in assessing educational outcomes (due, for example, to inaccuracy of school registers or comparability of educational outcomes across schools, and problems in detecting school dropout), and varying definitions of MHM practices.”

A recent systematic review identified only 3 intervention trials (in Nepal, Ghana and Kenya respectively) which assessed school attendance as an outcome.

“a recent systematic review identified only 3 intervention trials (in Nepal [12], Ghana [11] and Kenya [14] respectively), which assessed school attendance as an outcome.”

A higher proportion of girls (who did not use AFRIpads) reported using cloth compared with studies of girls in rural India (pooled prevalence: 63%) and single-study estimates from East Africa (24% in rural Kenya; 56% in Ethiopia).

“A higher proportion of girls (who did not use AFRIpads) reported using cloth compared with studies of girls in rural India (pooled prevalence: 63%12), and single-study estimates from East Africa (24% in rural Kenya;18 56% in Ethiopia9).”

The review identified only 3 studies of menstrual product provision, each assessing a different product: menstrual cups, disposable sanitary pads, and home-made reusable pads.

“The review identified only 3 studies of menstrual product provision, each assessing a different product; menstrual cups, [9] disposable sanitary pads, [10] and home-made reusable pads [11].”