Introduction
Methods
Study Setting
School Selection
Research Activities
Analysis
Ethics
Results
School and Participant Information
Public | Private | |
---|---|---|
Mean or number (Range or %) | Mean or number (Range or %) | |
Total number of schools | 3 (50%) | 3 (50%) |
Mukuru | 1 (33%) | 2 (66%) |
Mathare | 2 (67%) | 1 (33%) |
Population | 976 (902–1054) | 232 (115–295) |
Girls | 508 (468–560) | 119 (69–147) |
Primary religiona
| ||
Muslim | 2 | 0 |
Christian | 0 | 3 |
Muslim and Christian | 1 | 0 |
Water sanitation and hygiene facilities | ||
Pupil to functional latrine ratio (girls)b
| 27:1 (24:1–28:1) | 88:1 (47:1–147:1) |
Pupil to total latrine ratio (girls) | 23:1 (21:1–28:1) | 88:1 (47:1–147:1) |
Pupil to total water points | 58:1 (47:1–75:1) | 168:1 (97:1–295:1) |
Pupil to functional water points ratio, functional (total) | 509:1(97:1–902:1) | 232:1(115:1–295:1) |
Toilet paper present at LEAST sometimes | 3 | 2 |
Private dustbin in at LEAST 1 latrine stall | 3 | 1 |
Toilets types | ||
Pour flush | 3 | 1 |
Fresh Life Toilets | 2 | 1 |
Pit latrines | 0 | 1 |
Locks on any doors | 3 | 2 |
Formalized pad provision from school | 3 | 0 |
Extra uniforms provided by school after menstrual accident | 1 | 0 |
Challenges Posed by Policy, School Infrastructure, and Social Norms
Access to Pads and WASH Infrastructure Based on School Enrollment
The Sanitary Towels Programme Provides Pad Access, but Not for All Girls
Girls had inequitable access to pads even in public schools where they were provided by the government because not all girls felt comfortable requesting them. Additionally, supplies were not consistently available, and no standards existed to identify girls in greatest need. Participants in focus groups said that they were able to access pads, but that some of their peers lacked the confidence to ask their teacher for pads. Public school teachers described rationing the pads by only giving girls half of the number they might typically need because they did not have enough to give to each girl for the duration of her period. They reported that it had been almost a year since the last pad disbursement, and they were not sure when or if the government would distribute more pads. They did not have an objective way to identify needy students, so they distributed based on their knowledge, potentially overlooking some girls in need.If she [the teacher] sees you, that you have messed bad, she will tell you to go home and shower and wear a pad…[but] you could go home and find no one in the house and then you cannot come back to school because of the sanitary pads. So there are some lessons that you could miss that day. (FGD, School 1, Private)
Now, we are fearing to give them a whole packet. Even now if they come, I give them maybe 4. And those ones who are coming from the slums, they are the ones I give a whole packet. Because those ones, will stay home until the period is over. (Teacher, School 5, Public)
Access to school WASH facilities improves girls’ ability to manage menstruation
In traditional toilets at public schools, disposal bins were in one or two toilet stalls. Sometimes girls threw their used pads on the floor if they could not wait for a stall with a disposal bin, scaring younger children who would urinate or defecate on the floor to avoid going near the used pad. At one school, the janitor refused to clean the toilets when girls threw their pads on the floor; his frustration caused fear and stress for girls.Since the pad box is not there, if you put the pad in your pocket it may start smelling or it may fall down and you'll get embarrassed and ashamed. (FGD, School 2, Private)
This janitor also locked the door after he had finished cleaning, preventing girls from accessing the toilets. When this happened, girls would have to wait to use the toilet until a regularly scheduled break time, which occurred halfway through the morning classes, at lunch time, or halfway through the afternoon classes. Alternatively, girls could find a teacher to ask the janitor to unlock the door; however, this was particularly problematic for girls who were too shy to talk to their teachers.Girl 1: He is always angry. If he is cleaning and you go there, you'll make him even more angry.Girl 2: Even you can be beaten.Girl 3: If you just go to fetch water to drink it, you can be beaten. (FGD, School 6, Public School)
Inequitable Access Based on Religious Practice
Challenges to Managing Menstruation at School for All Girls
Girls Do Not Receive Complete Information about Menstruation
Girls in every school had fear and anxiety about getting infections. They worried about negative health outcomes due to poor menstrual management, and they believed that “splash back” (urine splattering onto the vulva) could cause urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, or infertility—regardless of menstrual status. Girls reported that teachers said using anything but a disposable pad would cause these ailments:Girl 1: [The teacher says] You stop playing with boys on your period.Girl 2: On your period, you can get pregnant. (FGD, School 3, Private)When someone is continuing with the period and is raped is there any chance to get pregnant?(AQS, School 4, Public School)
Participants also said they were less able to concentrate on their school work because of fear and anxiety about menstrual accidents.[She said] our private part is just like a mouth. And if we use tissue paper [instead of a sanitary pad]... [It could get into the vagina], and you may suffer with these diseases. [You may get] the disease that cannot be cured--You may not be able to have a kid. (FGD, School 1, Private)
Many Girls Experience Gender-Based Harassment and Assault
Girls at every school expressed fear and stress related to boys. In one school, girls stopped using the FLTs even though they were far cleaner than the flush toilets without a water supply because boys were trying to peak into the stall through vents in the doors. Girls and teachers said that boys regularly harass girls. Girls in one focus group described multiple occasions in which boys knew that a girl had a blood stain on her uniform; the boys found ways to make the girl stand up to expose the stain.Interviewer: How do boys tease?Girl 1: They may say, now you're a mother.Girl 2: They will say that you will have 15 babiesGirl 1: Or they say you are raining [hurtful slang term for menstruation]. (FGD, School 5, Public)
Girls in this focus group also talked about trying to play soccer or run around to divert attention from menstruation. Unfortunately, half of the girls did not feel comfortable playing games because boys touched them inappropriately.Girl 1: They may not let you stay in peace in class...They may take all of [your books] So that you [have to] stand up.[…]Girl 2: You stand up from your [desk] and you don’t know that you have messed [had a menstrual accident]. (FGD, School 5, Public)
While this was the only incidence in which girls discussed a specific incidence of sexual assault, girls in four of the six schools asked questions about boys touching them inappropriately or about boys raping them.Girl 1: Some boys, they pretend that they're playing with you. Like, playing football. When they're playing, they come, and touch your breast. You think that's it's just a play, but they have...Girl 2: Their intensionsGirl 3: We would like it to stopGirl 1: We feel devastated (FGD, School 5, Public)
Teachers told girls that they needed to be wary of boys and men once they reached menarche and that family members could be dangerous because they might misconstrue friendliness as a sexual advance.If your father’s friend came and tell you to have sex with him, what would you do? (AQS, School 4, Public)
Girl 1: Even hugging your brothers. You should keep away from themGirl 2: If you're grown up let's say,Girls 3: Even your uncle, say he has just come from Mombasa, do not run to him and hug him.Girl 4: Go and greet him with hands. Say hi with wordsGirl 1: Don't go and jumpGirl 4: You should not be that close to men. Even if your father has come with a male friend to the house, it is not good to go and greet him. (FGD, School 5, Public)