From Education to Legislation: Menstrual Health Education and Free Period Product Legislation's role developing Caribbean students

In the Caribbean, social norms and economic disparities often intersect, like, the importance of menstrual health education and access to free period products for school-aged children cannot be overstated. These foundational necessities not only contribute to the physical and emotional health of young girls and people who menstruate but also play a pivotal role in their academic and personal development.

Traditional beliefs that menstrual blood is dirty and needs to be hidden persist in many Caribbean cultures and communities, contributing to period stigma. Comprehensive Menstrual health education (MHE) in schools is essential for combating these harmful beliefs and fostering a supportive environment for students who menstruate. By providing accurate information and promoting open discussions about menstruation, schools can play a key role in breaking down these barriers and creating a thriving culture of empathy and understanding.

Achieving menstrual health implies that women, girls, and all other people who experience a menstrual cycle, throughout their life-course, are able to:

• access accurate, timely, age-appropriate information about the menstrual cycle, menstruation, and changes experienced throughout the life-course, as well as related self-care and hygiene practices.

  
  

• care for their bodies during menstruation such that their hygiene, comfort, privacy, and safety are supported. This includes accessing and using effective and affordable period products and having supportive facilities and services, including water, sanitation and hygiene services, for washing their  body and hands, changing pads and tampons, and cleaning and/or disposing of them. 

  
  

• access to timely diagnosis, treatment and care for menstrual cycle-related discomforts and disorders, including access to appropriate health services and resources, pain relief, and strategies for self-care.

  
  

• experience a positive and respectful environment, free from stigma and psychological distress, including the resources and support they need to confidently care for their bodies and make informed decisions about self-care throughout their menstrual cycle.

  
  

• decide whether and how to participate in all spheres of life, including civil, cultural, economic, social, and political, during all phases of the menstrual cycle, free from menstrual-related exclusion, restriction, discrimination, coercion, and/or violence.

These points are part of what constitutes care practices in people’s menstrual cycle. It is fundamental that people have the choice to establish the care practices that suit their cycle and well-being the most. As several of these points rely on external factors, the medical, social, economic, infrastructure around menstruation must also be care-informed. Enabling a care-informed environment at all levels of society demands policy and legislation that supports the creation of care practices for those who menstruate. 

Menstrual health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to one’s menstrual cycle, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. For students, and school-aged children, achieving menstrual health education means having access to accurate, age-appropriate information about menstruation, self-care practices, and the changes their bodies experience. This knowledge is crucial for holistic development and helps young people to manage their period while being well-informed, with confidence and dignity.

Proper menstrual health education ensures that menstruating students can adequately care for their bodies, with access to effective and affordable period products, as well as supportive facilities in schools. These facilities should include hygiene services and support in  the  form of menstrual products and services for challenging menstrual cycles. When schools provide such resources, it supports students' comfort, privacy, safety, and hygiene allowing them to focus on their studies rather than the challenges of managing their periods in an unsupportive environment.

Menstrual Health Education (MHE) is critical for raising awareness about periods, including its biological, psychological, and social aspects. For school-aged children, MHE teaches us about what one can expect during their menstrual cycle, how to manage menstrual hygiene, and the correct use of period products. More importantly, it addresses the stigma and taboos associated with periods.

Inadequate MHE can significantly impact a student's physical health, emotional well-being, educational attainment, and social life. For example, a lack of understanding about menstrual health can lead to anxiety, shame, and even absenteeism, as students may skip school due to the fear of embarrassment or the lack of proper menstrual products. This not only affects their academic performance but can also have long-term consequences, including diminished opportunities in education and employment.

Legislative action to provide free period products in schools must be prioritised. When students have access to free menstrual products, it removes a significant barrier to their education. This type of legislation not only improves the well-being of students who menstruate but can serve to begin the important process of integrating care practices into social policy. Any legislation around menstruation must provide the support and environment through which people who need it can access the necessary resources for their cycles (particularly during their periods). Significantly, legislation that makes space for the health a well-being of those who menstruate further reduces the prevalent stigma around periods. By prioritising the health and dignity of students, such policies ensure that all children have the support they need to thrive.

Free period product legislation in schools has far-reaching implications. It promotes public health by ensuring that all students have access to the products they need to manage their menstrual health safely. It also enhances educational access by reducing absenteeism and enabling students to participate fully in school activities without fear of stigma or discomfort. Additionally, this legislation supports social equity by ensuring that all students, regardless of their economic background, have the resources they need to succeed. Finally, free period product legislation could encourage the use of biodegradable, sustainable (and, usually expensive) period products. Free period product legislation can break an important financial barrier preventing people who menstruate to obtain products for their cycle that are reusable (and budget-reducing), healthy for their bodies as well as having a reduced impact on the environments to which period waste is returned. 

Moreover, by embedding care practices into policy, we signal the importance of compassion, empathy, and mutual support in society. These values are crucial for fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. Ensuring that students who menstruate have access to menstrual products is not just about hygiene; it’s about recognizing menstruation as a normal part of life and supporting the dignity, safety, and confidence of an invaluable sect of our society. 

By implementing comprehensive menstrual health education and providing free period products in schools, we take significant steps toward reducing inequality, supporting public health, and empowering young people to have a decent quality of life. When students have access to the resources and education that they need, they are more likely to stay active in school, to feel confident, and to participate fully in society.

Let’s end the secrecy and stigma around menstruation in our local and Caribbean cultures and communities. By fostering open conversations, encouraging community support, and promoting a more accepting and understanding attitude toward menstrual health, we can challenge and change harmful cultural norms to create a society where menstruation is treated as a normal, natural part of life, allowing everyone to participate fully and equally in society. Read about our school-based menstrual equity campaign.