Menstrual Hygiene Management and Human Rights: The Case for an Evidence-Based Approach

Menstrual hygiene has emerged as an under-recognized barrier to human rights. Activism and preliminary research have highlighted the challenges women face in managing their menses in resource-limited contexts. However, despite enthusiasm in the field and the dissemination of a variety of interventions, menstrual management is severely underresearched. I argue that a human rights approach to menstrual hygiene necessitates an evidence-based approach. My purpose here is to critically appraise the current state of the evidence in understanding the problem and in developing and evaluating interventions. I highlight present inadequacies and unanswered questions and propose avenues for future improvement.