Menstrual hygiene management

Content

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

Step-by-step resources and relevant documents

Download the tools (in Microsoft Word) below for each step of the project cycle – adapt, translate, use, improve.

Assessment

Step 1 : Identifying the problem

Tool 1: Focus group discussion guide – assessment: English, French, Arabic, Spanish
Tool 2: Checklist for inclusive MHM friendly latrines: English, French, Arabic, Spanish

Step 2: Identifying target groups

Tool 3: Checklist for inclusive MHM friendly bathing areas – English, French, Arabic, Spanish

Step 3: Analysing barriers and enablers for behaviour change

Tool 4: Checklist for inclusive MHM friendly solid waste facilities – English, French, Arabic, Spanish
Tool 5: Cash programming for menstrual hygiene – English, French, Arabic, Spanish

Planning

Step 4: Formulating menstrual hygiene objectives

Tool 6: Step-by-step tool for deciding priority MHM actions (based on assessment)- English, French, Arabic, Spanish
Tool 7: Example MHM outputs, indicators and targets for the Emergency Plan of Action- English, French, Arabic, Spanish

Step 5: Planning

Tool 8: Minimum items to be included in dignity or MHM kits for menstrual hygiene English, French, Arabic, Spanish

Implementation

Step 6: 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.

Monitoring, evaluation & learning

Step 7: Monitoring and evaluation

Tool 10: Feedback and mitigation log (can also include rumours, complaints and misinformation) – English, French, Arabic, Spanish
Tool 11: Post-distribution monitoring survey – English, French, Arabic, Spanish

Step 8: Review, re-adjust

Tool 12: Survey for post-distribution monitoring – English, French, Arabic, Spanish
Tool 13: Checklist for MHM actions in humanitarian operations – English, French, Arabic, Spanish

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.

Disposable pads	Reusable pads	Tampons
English	English	English
French	French	French
Spanish	Spanish
Arabic	Arabic
Portuguese	Portuguese
Swahili	Swahili
Kirundi	Kirundi

External Guidelines and tools

Learning resources

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.

Design and piloting of adaptable, inclusive and MHM friendly emergency WASH facilities: IFRCs HIF project 2020 – 2021

Standard emergency latrine or bathing area designs are often not appropriate for people who menstruate, nor accessible to those with disabilities. To contribute to solving this problem, the IFRC, Lebanese Red Cross, British Red Cross and Arup implemented a project to design and pilot MHM friendly and accessible emergency WASH facilities. This work was supported by Elhra’s Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF).

Adaptable designs for i) a raised latrine block, ii) bathing block, and iii) trench latrine, including construction drawings, bill of quantities, and step-by-step instructions are available here:

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: Alexandra Machado or wash.geneva@ifrc.org.