Air Quality Possibly Linked to Increasing Menstruation Challenges in Developing Nations
"The cheapest [sanitary pad] is retailing at 50 shillings (approximately 32 cents)...the cheapest painkillers cost around six cents, or ten Kenyan shillings, for a pack of two,” says Senator Gloria Orwoba, a leading advocate for menstrual policy reform in Kenya. According to reports from the US Agency for International Development, 65% of women and girls in Kenya cannot afford the basic tools necessary to manage their periods, resulting in many of them missing days of schooling. Lack of access to sanitary pads and pain management medication is compounded by the ostracism girls face if they bleed through their clothing or are forced to use makeshift supplies.
New research, however, has suggested that diminishing air quality is potentially exacerbating the issue. In the United States, researchers discovered that girls with high exposure to air pollution in-utero and in childhood experienced “a 3-fold increased likelihood of menarche (first menstruation) before the 11 years of age.” Furthermore, studies have also linked air pollution in adulthood to an increased risk of developing endometriosis, a condition that, among several other challenges, can cause severe pain and heavy bleeding during menstruation. In 2021, researchers in Taiwan discovered that women who experienced high levels of pollution were over 30 times more likely to develop dysmenorrhea, or “painful periods.”
While research has not been formally conducted on the effects of air quality on women's health in Kenya, the results of these studies from more developed nations are extremely concerning. Many developing nations suffer from dangerous levels of air pollution–with levels in some places regularly reaching several times above thresholds determined to be “safe” by the WHO. In parts of Kenya like Nairobi, pollution levels are currently 2.9x the WHO guidelines. This demonstrates how imperative it is that the Kenyan government and global actors address the potential impact of air pollution on women's menstrual cycles.
Supporting research to understand how pollution affects women's reproductive health could open the door for the creation of more effective policies to approach period management and pollution concerns. Prioritizing these policies would significantly benefit the over 65% of women and girls in Kenya who face challenges due to lack of support in managing their periods. By providing solutions to menstrual health management, more girls would have the opportunity to attend school consistently, contributing to the overall empowerment and education of women in Kenya. This, in turn, can help contribute to a more educated population, positively impacting the nation's development and well-being.
Being originally from Nepal, I understand the plight of a developing nation with extremely poor air quality, and significant stigmas surrounding menstruation. It is clear that once the global stage prioritizes menstruation policy and management in developing nations, significant strides in gender equality can be achieved. Ultimately, addressing the intersectionality of pollution and menstrual health is a vital step towards creating a healthier, and more equitable global society.