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In Jordan UNFPA strives to improve menstrual health for the most vulnerable refugees and host communities. This report provides the findings of the monitoring data gathered for a pilot initiative carried out in 2022 in Amman, Madaba and Karak which coupled awareness raising sessions on menstruation with small amounts of cash assistance loaded on electronic bracelets for the purchase of menstrual products.
Background
In the Arab region, gender inequality, discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, poverty, and lack of basic services affect girls’ and women’s lives and their ability to meet their menstrual health and hygiene needs in a dignified manner. A recent research conducted by UNFPA Jordan revealed increasing levels of period poverty in the country and highlighted the challenges that women and girls face in accessing quality sanitary products, stigma-free information on MHM and adequate WASH facilities.
Data from the study include:
Social stigma: 95% of respondents highlighted that they do not feel comfortable declaring that they are on menstruation.
Purchasing products: Majority of women respondents in host communities send their male relatives (father, brother or son) to buy menstrual products
Choice of menstrual products: 100% of women respondents who live in low-income living situations in host-communities tend to use child diapers or maternity pads instead of menstrual pads due to their lower price.
Vulnerable groups: Parents of women with mental or physical disability tend to give their daughters medicines to delay their menstrual cycle or to enforce hysterectomies to lighten the burden of managing their MH.