School and work absenteeism due to menstruation in three West African countries: findings from PMA2020 surveys
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Open Access
Abstract
Reports of school and work absences due to unmet menstrual needs have prompted increased
attention to menstruation in policy and practice. However, there appear to be few quantitative studies
reported in published literature capturing the prevalence of this hypothesised absenteeism. This study
undertook secondary analysis of nationally representative Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020
(PMA2020) data from Burkina Faso and Nigeria, and city-representative data from Niamey, Niger to
determine the extent of women’s and girls’ self-reported absence from school and work due to menstruation.
Among women and adolescent girls aged 15–49 years who had worked outside the household in the past
month in Burkina Faso (n = 998), Niger (n = 212) and Nigeria (n = 3638), 19%, 11% and 17%, respectively,
reported missing work due to menstruation. Among those aged 15–24 years who attended school in the past
year in Burkina Faso (n = 461), Niger (n = 213) and Nigeria (n = 1574), 17%, 15% and 23% reported missing
school in the past year due to menstruation. Findings support the assertion that menstruation is a source of
absenteeism in West Africa and indicate that greater attention from research, practice, and policy is needed.
In presenting this data we also reflect critically on the performance of questions regarding menstrual-related
absenteeism in national monitoring surveys.
Description
Keywords
Menstrual hygiene, Menstrual health, Dysmenorrhea, Employment, West African countries
Citation
Hennegan, J. et al. (2021). School and work absenteeism due to menstruation in three West African countries: findings from PMA2020 surveys. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matter, 29(1), 1915940. 10.1080/26410397.2021.1915940