Improving menstrual health across the life-course

Half of the population will experience a menstrual cycle for up to 40 years of their life. To safeguard their physical, mental, and social wellbeing, all people who menstruate need access to timely and accurate information about the menstrual cycle and self-care, facilities, and resources to care for their body during menstruation, treatment and care for menstrual-related discomforts and disorders and supportive environments free from psychological distress or menstrual related restriction. Yet menstrual health needs remain unmet around the globe.

Multiple projects are available for students to work with the Global Adolescent Health Group on this topic at Burnet Institute in Melbourne.
Systematic review, quantitative and qualitative projects are available and focus on addressing priority evidence gaps for improving policy and practice.

Example projects include:

• using cross-sectional survey data collected among adult women working in markets in Mukono District, Uganda to explore the financial impacts of sanitation and menstrual health needs
• using cross-sectional survey data to inform modifications to menstrual health intervention programming in Ethiopia
• improving care for menstrual discomforts and disorders in Papua New Guinea: qualitative analysis of adolescent needs and health care provider perceptions.