Menstrual Health Country Snapshots

As the first Snapshot to focus on a Latin American country, this report aims to provide a high-level contextualization of the MH landscape in the Dominican Republic, from education to resource access to national policies.

Six out of ten primary schools lack access to WASH facilities in Cambodia. The support of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport is increasing access to menstrual health education in the most rural provinces.

Menstrual equity and period poverty is a fairly new pressing social and political issue in Canada, where government ministries, Women and Gender Equality Canada, Indigenous activists, and others are key actors.

9 out of 10 girls are absent from school during their menses in Ghana, and MH partners include multiple government departments and the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights Ghana.

50% of women and girls believe cultural myths that menstrual blood contains harmful substances. Partners in Kenya include government ministries, African Women’s Development Fund, USAID, and more.

Second only to Malaria, menstruation is the leading cause behind girls’ absenteeism from school in Malawi. Partners include PLAN Malawi, Supreme Sanitary Pads, WASH United, and government ministries.

In 2025, Nepal’s National Assembly unanimously approved a resolution to eliminate menstrual discrimination along with the ongoing development of a Dignified Menstruation Policy to comprehensively address menstrual taboos and improve national MH through education, facilities, and holistic social change.

At least 20% of Rwandese school girls miss up to 50 days of school per year due to menstruation. Partners include, WASH United, African Women’s Development Fund, and UNFPA Rwanda.

An estimated 60% of women and girls in South Africa do not have access to menstrual products. Partners include UNICEF & UNFPA South Africa, WASH United, and numerous government departments.

Only 57% of households in Tanzania have access to drinking water and 25% have safely managed sanitation services. Partners include government ministries, Femme International, UNICEF, UNFPA ESARO, the Tanzania National Institute of Medical Research, and more.

65% of girls and women in Uganda are unable to access MH products and meet their MH needs. Partners include the Government of Uganda, Irise Institute East Africa, WASH United, and African Women’s Development Fund.

72% of school girls in Zimbabwe cannot afford disposable menstrual pads. Partners include WASH United, Sanitary Aid Zimbabwe Trust, The Restoration Hem Project, Women’s Action Group, and more.