Understanding Menstrual Discrimination Across the Global South: A Cross-Country Research Study

More than half of the world’s population menstruates at some point in their lives. Despite menstruation being a common and natural biological process, menstruating with dignity remains far from a universal reality. Instead, across countries and communities, menstrual discrimination often defines the experiences of many menstruators. 

For all women, girls, and gender-diverse people to be able to menstruate with dignity, menstrual discrimination must be better understood. To address this critical evidence gap, the Sang pour Sang Consortium is pleased to share findings from its representative, population-based study on menstrual dignity and discrimination across nine countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. 

Grounded in feminist, rights-based, and intersectional research approaches, the research study was designed to generate a comprehensive understanding of menstrual discrimination and its structural drivers in the Global South. Using mixed-methods surveys, the research engaged 4,936 menstruators and 3,465 men and boys in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Guinea, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines. 

This generated critical findings on:  

• experiences with menstrual discrimination;  

• attitudes related to menstruation;  

• knowledge of menstruation; and 

• access to menstrual products and supportive environments for dignified menstruation.  

A defining feature of the study is its inclusion of both menstruators and men and boys, enabling a more robust understanding of the factors that shape menstrual discrimination in these diverse contexts in the Global South.  

The study also intentionally centered populations that often remain underrepresented in menstrual health and dignity research, including gender-diverse menstruators, people living with disabilities, Indigenous communities, and people living in humanitarian settings. By elevating these perspectives, the research contributes to a more inclusive and equitable evidence base. 

The resulting cross-country reports provide important evidence for governments, civil society organizations, advocates, donors, researchers, and movement leaders working to advance menstrual health and dignity. The findings can be used to strengthen menstrual health programming, inform advocacy strategies, support policy reform, and guide investments. This can ensure that they are responsive to lived experiences and the structural drivers of menstrual discrimination. 

We invite you to explore the reports and use this evidence to help build a world where everyone can menstruate with dignity. 

Read the full report (English)