Year of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Anthropology

Other Degree Name/Area of Focus

Applied Medial Anthropology

Department or School/College

Anthropology

Committee Chair

Kimber Haddix McKay

Commitee Members

Richard Sattler Phyllis Ngai

Keywords

menstrual hygiene management, WASH, development, menstruation, anthropology, Uganda

Subject Categories

Social and Cultural Anthropology

Abstract

Educating girls is not only their human right, but also proposed as one of the best investments for improving quality of life in developing countries (Montgomery et al. 2016, 2). Although menstruation is a universal, biological process, it is fraught with cultural stigmas and taboos throughout Western and non-Western societies. Menstrual-related absenteeism is believed to be a primary cause of missed attendance and early dropout rates, so the developing field of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is seeking to understand and evaluate what factors are contributing to these findings. After the analyzation of the current literature, a more holistic, nine-pronged approach to menstrual hygiene management is proposed for interventions in the Global South through girls’ access to sanitary products, clean toilets, hand washing facilities, puberty education, pain mitigation, a head woman teacher, inclusion of boys and men, improving support at home, and destigmatization. Because of the country’s rich recent history of international attention and aid, Uganda will be utilized as a backdrop to understand what menstrual hygiene management research is currently being conducted, positive and negative conclusions from the studies, and to uncover gaps for future research.

Download

Share

COinS
 

© Copyright 2017 Sophia A. Bay