Breaking Menstrual Health Stigma for Girls’ Agency and Education - TAYONEHO
Adolescent girls continue to be uninformed and unprepared for menstruation. Research shows that this lack of knowledge becomes a barrier to education, and can affect their agency and development. Relatives and teachers are often not prepared to respond to the needs of girls.
“Growing up, all the knowledge and information I had about menstruation came from school and friends. Menstruation in my family was a taboo, something you could not talk about,” Victoria Erik, an adolescent girl from Geita District in Tanzania, says.
Victoria Eric - Adolescent girl beneficiary of TAYONEHO
Victoria’s story is a reality among girls in the Lake Zone Region of Tanzania. Our network partner Tanzania Youth with New Hope in Life Organization (TAYONEHO) conducted a research study from 2018 to 2020 on girls’ menstrual hygiene management issues in the Lake Zone Districts of Tanzania. The research shows that 48% of the girls missed school 3-4 days a month, and some dropped out due to lack of access to sanitary pads caused by economic and financial constraints, cultural norms, and stigma. TAYONEHO’s research also noted that the families and schools did not recognize the need to support the girls and had little to no knowledge of sanitation. Girls such as Victoria struggled with the choice between missing class and falling behind or staining their school uniform and being teased or bullied by others. This struggle takes a toll on the girls’ school performance and attendance.
“As an adolescent, I lived in a small town, and the toilets in my school did not offer adequate conditions; they were dirty and lacked water. Students had to go to the bush and trees behind the school to relieve themselves,” Victoria says. “Those who lived close to the school would go home for bathroom breaks. Sometimes, we wouldn’t make it back to school in time, and we had to stand outside the classroom, missing the chance to participate in class and fully understand the subject.”
Dr. Imani Tinda, the Executive Director of TAYONEHO, says the issue of girls’ school dropout in rural areas of Tanzania is multifaceted and needs to be approached holistically. TAYONEHO was founded in 2010 in the Lake Zone region of Tanzania. The organisation is familiar with the myths and stigma surrounding menstruation in the community. These beliefs, Dr Imani mentions, are deeply rooted and hinder the community from freely speaking about menstruation. These views and the resulting shame affect adolescent girls’ self-esteem and confidence in school.
TAYONEHO provides access to menstrual health education, sanitary pads, WASH, and infrastructure development. TAYONEHO also recognizes the need to advocate against the retrogressive norms and stigma surrounding menstruation that prevent girls from accessing education.
In 2023, TAYONEHO launched Making Education Accessible for Girls, a life skills program implemented in 6 Tanzania schools in Mwanza, Geita, and Kagera Regions to advance girls’ agency and rights. The program also provides a safe space to share issues that affect girls in the community. Trained mentors lead the sessions and follow a tailored curriculum. Dr. Imani believes the program enables girls in the community to make informed choices about their education and lives and “see themselves as right-holders and with choices and opportunities”. TAYONEHO has since reached 684 girls through the program.
TAYONEHO’s interventions also focus on educating the community to respond to the needs of the girls. The Lake Zone region-based organisation developed the Parent-Teacher-Partnership (PTP) intervention in the schools to increase parents’ engagement in their children’s education and learning. Through the PTP sessions, TAYONEHO breaks the stigma and the gendered norms in the community that hinder girls' access to uninterrupted education.
Thousands of adolescent girls in rural areas of Africa struggle to access menstrual health education and services, which puts them at risk of dropping out of school. Recognizing and supporting innovative programs and holistic interventions implemented by community-driven organizations such as TAYONEHO will enable them to continue their important work in developing girls' agency and preparing the community to respond effectively to challenges that hinder girls’ access to education and opportunities.