The future of female youth within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) holds immense potential but faces significant challenges within the realm of sexual reproductive health such as with basic menstrual health hygiene.
Many countries across the world have shifted focus to broader aspects of female health and wellness, with intimate care, pain management, eco-conscious and innovative menstruation products gaining popularity and mainstream appeal as part of a larger self-care regime. #PeriodTok videos have more than 2.8 billion TikTok views, as of January 2024 which shows a significant move away from stigmas surrounding menstruation, with some countries providing free sanitary products in schools and public spaces while empowering young women through education and leadership opportunities, ensuring they have the tools to succeed in all facets of life.
However, the reality for many SSA youth is vastly different. Â According to UNESCO, one in ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstrual cycle due to a lack of access to sanitary products and adequate sanitary facilities. This absence can accumulate, causing girls to fall behind academically and, in some cases, to drop out altogether.
In Kenya, 65% of women and girls cannot afford sanitary pads.[1] As a result, risky sexual behaviours like transactional sex for pads become a concern majorly driven by period poverty. The burden is evident with the rising number of new HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, school absenteeism and school dropout rates among the same age group.
Progress through innovative problem-solving and concerted efforts
Despite these challenges, there are concerted efforts underway aimed at improving the situation. Non-profit organisation, Tiko has launched a user-centred menstrual health initiative, that utilises its digital platform and AI powered image recognition to verify distribution to existing local shops which provide access to free pads among adolescent girls (15-19).
Knowing that the stigma surrounding menstruation exacerbates the problem, Tiko also partnered with Zana Africa to launch 2-day life skills boot camps for 10-14-year-olds to equip adolescent girls in Kenya with the tools they need to safely navigate puberty and unlock their potential.
âOur goal was for the adolescents to leave the camps equipped with a good understanding of what puberty is and what can be expected. It is important that they feel mentally and physically ready for their menstrual cycles as well as understand what to expect, what menstrual products are available and how to use them. The initiative also creates a strong network of friends and support that will continue long after the camps are complete,â says Marylou Kupfer, Strategy and Innovation Director, Tiko Africa.
Bridging the Gap
To bridge the gap between the advanced wellness initiatives seen in some parts of the world and the basic needs still unmet in many parts of SSA there needs to be increased investment that prioritises funding for not only menstrual health products but education. Community-based education programs are crucial for raising awareness about menstrual health to avoid stigmas and help prepare young girls for puberty in a way that contributes to sustainable support and lasting change.
âThrough our discovery pilots which were set in motion in April 2024, we have also seen a real need for access to trusted and age appropriate sexual and reproductive health and rights information, and a huge lack of preparation for many young girlâs first period. Moving forward we plan to use insights from this pilot to scale our efforts nationally and improve our machine learning model,â says Kupfer.
âWe know that beyond menstrual health, initiatives should aim to provide comprehensive health education, including better sexual and reproductive health services, mental health support, and more broadly livelihoods and skill building for young women which is something that weâve been placing a lot of importance on at Tiko,â adds Kuper.
The future of female youth in SSA is reliant on addressing the basic yet critical need for menstrual health management and better sexual reproductive health services, which can only be achieved by supporting young women and girls with the tools they need to manage their health and well-being, on their terms, in an environment where young women thrive.
[1] https://www.globalwaters.org/resources/assets/embracing-flow-how-usaid-improving-menstrual-health-and-hygiene-east-africa
