Men and boys to be included in menstrual health research

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society launched its Know Your Flow programme in partnership with Edgewell Personal Care and Helping Her Foundation on May 28.

Through a baseline study of needs, knowledge and practices, Know Your Flow will seek to understand the linkages between, and impact of poverty, culture, health, gender, and education on Menstrual Health and Hygiene in TT and to move the conversation beyond a women-only to a whole-of Society and public health concern. People across the country, including men and boys, are being asked to vocalise their questions, concerns and understanding of menstruation, said a media release.

According to Jill De Bourg, president, Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society: “Taking a whole-of-society approach to addressing menstrual health and hygiene – we believe it is important to capture the views of men and boys, as well as those of women and girls who menstruate or are going through menopause. Cultural and social norms around menstruation are rooted in gender inequality and compromise some women’s ability to manage menstruation with dignity. So it’s important that we understand beliefs and attitudes fully if we are to work towards lasting change. Through their roles as husbands, fathers, teachers, entrepreneurs, employers and policymakers – men and boys have an impact on women and girls’ experiences of managing their menstrual hygiene and health – they cannot be left out of the conversation or excluded from actions towards change.”

Samantha Duncan, founder and president of Helping Her Foundation said: “We have been tackling period poverty in Trinidad and Tobago for the past seven years and there has never been an extensive data collection process like this, done in the country around Menstrual Health and Hygiene. We are looking forward to this partnership with The Red Cross and Edgewell to improve target audience precision, while providing the appropriate products and education in a continuous, healthy manner.”

Commenting on behalf of Edgewell Personal Care, Devaughn Charles, business development executive for Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, Barbados, St Lucia and Jamaica said: “As a manufacturer of feminine products and a stakeholder in the feminine hygiene space we are giving our full support to the Know Your Flow programme and the long-term public education and policy work that is needed to bring about change. This is important work that can only benefit further, from an evidence-based approach.”

The Know Your Flow programme kicked off as the world observed Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28 and will include a series of participatory research exercises and challenges over the next year, for people between the ages of ten years-55+ years. The activities include:

Girls ten-17 years – Character Challenge

Through schools, girls will be asked to create a character (draw, paint, cut out from magazines, etc.) they would identify with or would like to see featured in the Know Your Flow programme; and list the five questions they have around menstruation. Prizes will be provided to the girls who create the three characters selected for the programme.

Women 18-45 years ­– Letter to Your Younger Self: Menstruation

Women in this age bracket are asked to write a letter to their younger self indicating the things they wish they had known before or when they got their periods, and any word of advice they would offer to their younger self.

Women 46 years and older – Letter to Your Younger Self: Menopause

Women who have experienced menopause are asked to write a letter to their younger self indicating the things they wished they had known before or when they entered menopause, and any word of advice they would share.

Men and Boys ten-51 and over – The 5 Things Challenge

Men and boys are being asked to say five things they know about menstruation and five things they would like to know about the subject.

Following these early challenges, further research will be conducted during the second stage of the programme to solicit the views of influential members of society, such as teachers, policy makers, academics, and religious leaders.

Know Your Flow Letters and questions should be e-mailed to knowyourflow@ttrcs.org or delivered by hand to Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society, Port of Spain.