National Monitoring for Menstrual Health and Hygiene: Is the Type of Menstrual Material Used Indicative of Needs Across 10 Countries?

摘要: Surveys monitoring population health and sanitation are increasingly seeking to monitor menstrual health. In the absence of established indicators, these surveys have most often collected data on type material used. This study investigated whether such provides a useful indication women's needs being met. Using from 12 national or state representative Performance Monitoring Accountability 2020 program, we compared self-reported use against respondents' reported (including needing clean materials, money, access vendor). The pads did not indicate that were met for many respondents. Of those exclusively using pads, pooled 26.4% (95% Confidence Interval 17.1-38.5) respondents they had unmet needs. More disadvantaged groups particularly misrepresented; rural women 38.5% (95%CI 27.3-51.1) needs, 17.1% 12.4-23.0) urban women. Similar disparities observed levels education wealth, with 45.9% 29.2-63.6) in lowest wealth quintile reporting Findings suggest caution is needed when as an indicator