In Senegal and in many African countries, menstruation is considered taboo and is hardly discussed in the family. Mothers do not talk to their daughters about it. As a result, pre-pubescent girls are not always prepared to manage menstrual hygiene because they do not have basic knowledge of menstrual cycles
The silence built around menstruation does not favour good management of menstrual hygiene among girls and even among some women. In some societies, women and girls from poor families use pieces of cloth as a means of protection. Most often, the drying of sanitary material is done in the toilets or in the rooms in discretion. This poor management of menstrual hygiene exposes girls and women to the risk of infection or reproductive tract diseases.
Others use disposable materials and dispose of the waste in the toilet or in the rubbish bin. This practice has a negative impact on the environment, as some sanitary materials are not biodegradable.
Lack of sanitation facilities in public places
At the political level, this silence is manifested by the absence of sanitary facilities adapted to the needs of women and girls, particularly in public places such as markets where women are present in large numbers. These places do not provide for the washing of menstruating women. Moreover, many women prefer to stay at home for 2 to 3 days when they start menstruating.
I am a trader. But when I get my period, because there are no sanitary toilets at the market, I usually stay at home. When my period surprises me at the market, I ask the neighbours to help me wash and change.
In 2013, a study by the Senegalese Ministry of Education estimated that women lose 40 to 45% of their income during menstruation.
This is true for health facilities (posts, centres, hospitals) and schools, where girls are absent for two to three days each month. 40% of girls aged between 9 and 17 missed school at least once a week each time they had their period because of this lack of infrastructure.
Putting an end to prejudice and harmful beliefs
Beyond the taboos, there are many prejudices and social and traditional beliefs that do not favour the development of women during menstruation. In some cultures, menstruation is considered an impurity or an illness that must be managed with discretion. Women who menstruate are rejected or isolated, which increases their vulnerability.
With this in mind, the international community has established a World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Every year on 28 May, menstrual hygiene is celebrated, a symbolic date because 28 marks the average number of days of menstrual cycles while 5, the approximate duration of menstruation per month, refers to May, which is the fifth month of the year.
