Why

Menstrual hygiene management is an essential aspect of health for all women and adolescent girls. However, it is a considerable challenge in sub-Saharan African countries like Cameroon. The Northern regions of Cameroon are the poorest regions in the country, with over 70% of the population living below the poverty line. Insecurity issues linked with the Boko Haram terrorist group have led to fewer opportunities and overall harsh times for young girls and women living in these areas. The taboos and stigmas attached to menstruation lead to an overall culture of silence around the topic, resulting in limited information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene. This causes considerable psychological trauma for the girls as they may not understand the happenings in their bodies and have no one to ask. In many cultures, menstruating women are considered impure and excluded from participating in everyday activities, such as education, employment, and cultural and religious practices. In an area where poverty is the norm, period poverty is not a surprise. Most menstruating girls and women in the North of Cameroon do not have access to menstrual products and good hygiene facilities for use during their menstruating days. They resort to unhealthy palliatives such as using old and unclean clothing, toilet paper, and even leaves of trees to help themselves during what should be a peaceful period of their lives every month. In areas like this, promoting menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is not only a sanitation matter; it is also an important step towards safeguarding the dignity, bodily integrity, and overall life opportunities of women and girls.