What is the scope for addressing menstrual hygiene management in complex humanitarian emergencies? A global review
Abstract
Global attention on improving the integration of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) into humanitarian response is growing. However, there continues to be a lack of consensus on how best to approach MHM inclusion within response activities. This global review assessed the landscape of MHM practice, policy, and research within the field of humanitarian response. This included an analysis of the limited existing documentation and research on MHM in emergencies and global key informant interviews (n=29) conducted with humanitarian actors from relevant sectors (water, sanitation, and hygiene; women’s protection; child protection; health; education; non-food items; camp management). The findings indicate that despite a growing dialogue around MHM in emergencies, there remains a lack of clarity on the key components for a complete MHM response, the responsible sectoral actors to implement MHM activities, and the most effective interventions to adapt in emergency contexts, and insufficient guidance on monitoring and evaluation. There is a critical need for improved technical guidance and documentation on how to integrate MHM into existing programming and monitoring systems and to ensure adequate coordination and communication about MHM across relevant sectors. There is also a need for improved evidence on effective MHM approaches, the development of MHM-specific indicators, improved consultation with girls and women in crisis-afflicted areas, and the documentation of practical learning. It is only through improving the resources available and enhancing this evidence base that MHM can be perceived as an integral and routine component of any humanitarian response.
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With the principal focus of MHM research centered on adolescent girls in school settings, considerably less attention has been given to women's experience of MHM at other life stages.
“With the principal focus of MHM research centered on adolescent girls in school settings, considerably less attention has been given to women’s experience of MHM at other life stages, outside of a few key papers that focus on menstruation in the workplace and in emergency contexts, along with other types of vaginal bleeding [38–43].”
From ’It’s like a burden on the head’: Redefining adequate menstrual hygiene management throughout women’s varied life stages in Odisha, India. (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
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Cited by
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Marni Sommer, M. S., Margaret L. Schmitt, M. L. S., David Clatworthy, D. C., Gina Bramucci, G. B., Erin Wheeler, E. W., & Ruwan Ratnayake, R. R.
- Venue
- Waterlines
- Publisher
- Practical Action Publishing
- Published
- 2016-07-01
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 245-264
- ISSN
- 0262-8104 (ISSN-L)
- 1756-3488
- OpenAlex
- W2475493887
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 2.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Waterlines (publishedVersion)
- LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
- Issue Lab (Candid) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Conflict Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Security, and Conflict
- Keywords
- menstrual hygiene management, complex emergencies, humanitarian response, women's protection, child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, non-food items, camp administration, monitoring and evaluation, technical guidance, evidence base
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