The need to have a multifaceted and mainstreamed approach to addressing menstrual hygiene management: a Kenyan case study

Brighter Communities Worldwide (formally known as Friends of Londiani – rebranded in January 2017) has been working with communities in Kericho County, Kenya for the past fifteen years. We began working on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in schools in 2010 when the need was identified by the community. Approximately 90% of teachers in schools were the programme has been implemented reported an improvement in girl’s school attendance and 77% of the girls involved in the programme have seen a change of attitude and understanding towards menstruation among their families and communities. Feedback from the programme has enhanced our view that MHM requires a multidimensional approach and that improved MHM will have benefits for all sectors of the community. This paper goes through our experience in the field of running one programme on MHM to mainstreaming MHM across all of Brighter Communities Worldwide’s programmes.