Menstrual hygiene management
Menstrual hygiene management, or MHM, refers to a range of actions and interventions that ensure that people who menstruate can privately, safely and hygienically manage their menstruation with confidence and dignity. MHM is not only about distributing pads or providing education to girls. Effective MHM actions have three main components:
- MHM materials and supportive items,
- Private, safe and appropriate WASH facilities, and
- Information on menstruation and hygiene (including taboos and cultural beliefs).
Guidelines and tools
Red Cross Red Crescent Guidelines and tools
IFRCs Menstrual Hygiene Management guideline and tools
Guidance and practical tools for designing and implementing appropriate, comprehensive and effective MHM action in humanitarian contexts, adapted for the Red Cross Red Crescent context.
See below for other languages – Click on any image to download the guideline
French
Arabic
Bahasa Indonesia
Spanish
Step-by-step resources and relevant documents
Assessment
Planning
Implementation
- Tool 9: Example IEC materials for disposable pads, reusable cloth pads and tampons which can be adapted and translated. Available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portugese, Swahili and Kirundi. Contact wash.geneva@ifrc.org for design files and raw text. Download links in the table below
Monitoring, evaluation & learning
Example IEC material for menstrual hygiene
IEC materials for disposable pads, reusable cloth pads and tampons (pre-developed, generic materials in English, French, Spanish and Arabic that can be adapted and translated). Contact the IFRC Geneva WASH team for design files and raw text.
External Guidelines and tools
- Priority List of Indicators for Girls’ Menstrual Health and Hygiene: Technical Guidance for National Monitoring, Global MHH Monitoring Group & Columbia University (2022)
- UNICEF Guidance for Monitoring Menstrual Health and Hygiene (2020)
- Menstrual Disposal, Waste Management and Laundering in Emergencies: A compendium (2020), Columbia University and International Rescue Committee
- UNICEF Guidance on Menstrual Health and Hygiene (2019)
- UNICEF Guide to Menstrual Materials (2019)
- Global toolkit for integrating Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) into humanitarian response (2017), Columbia University and International Rescue Committee
- WEDC Guidance note: Menstruation hygiene management for schoolgirls (2014)
- Menstrual Hygiene Matters: A resource for improving menstrual hygiene around the world (House, Mahon and Cavill, co-published by 18 organisations)
- Menstrual Hygiene Matters: Training guide for practitioners (WaterAid, SHARE)
Learning resources
IFRC MHM global case study collection from RCRC National Societies both in emergency and long-term contexts.
Correlation between menstrual hygiene practices, literacy, food habits and age of menstruating women in Bajhang: A case study Nepal Red Cross Society (2017).
Periods don’t stop in emergencies: Addressing the menstrual hygiene needs of women and girls. A case study from IFRCs operational research in Eastern Africa.
Review of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) actions with a focus on solid waste: Findings and recommendations (both for the ongoing operation and broadly for future operations)
Case study and results from pilot research on MHM kits in Bwagiriza refugee camp, Burundi IFRC (2013).
IFRCs HIF innovation projects
IFRCs first Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) supported project “Improving Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergencies” ran from October 2014 until March 2016 and was implemented by Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Somalia, Madagascar and Uganda. Many of the resources above have been developed based on this project and using key lessons and recommendations.
- ALNAP Case Study on Improving Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergencies: IFRC’s MHM Kit
- This study is one in a series of 15 case studies, undertaken by ALNAP in partnership with ELRHAs Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), exploring the dynamics of successful innovation processes in humanitarian action.
See the HIF evaluation case study: IFRC for more information on the innovation process.
IFRC are currently developing and piloting rapid tools and designs for inclusive, female-friendly WASH facilities (communal latrine & bathing/laundering areas) in partnership with Lebanese Red Cross, British Red Cross and ARUP, funded by HIF/Erlha. See here for more information.
Advocacy and communication material
On each Menstrual Hygiene Day (28th of May) as well as throughout the year, IFRC continues to advocate for improved actions to address the menstrual hygiene needs of women and girls in the humanitarian contexts. Over 26 million displaced girls and women around the world face challenges such as the lack of access to menstrual supplies, difficulty in finding private and appropriate bathing, drying or latrine facilities, restrictions or stigmas from cultural taboos and traditional beliefs, and a lack of information.
To raise awareness of the challenges women and girls worldwide face due to their menstruation and highlights solutions that address these challenges, including through media work we’ve created two videos and a series of assets to use as a Facebook and/or Instagram story. Some of could also be repurposed for Twitter.
MHM animation videos for advocacy and trainings are available in the following links :
To include resources on this page, or for more information on IFRC initiatives please contact: wash.geneva@ifrc.org