Research priorities for improving menstrual health across the life-course in low- and middle-income countries

Marina Plesons; Belen Torondel; Bethany A Caruso; Julie Hennegan; Marni Sommer; Jacquelyn Haver; Danielle Keiser; Anna M van Eijk; Garazi Zulaika; Linda Mason; Penelope A Phillips-Howard

doi:10.1080/16549716.2023.2279396

Research priorities for improving menstrual health across the life-course in low- and middle-income countries

Glob Health Action. 2023 Dec 31;16(1):2279396. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2279396. Epub 2023 Nov 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
² Department of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
³ Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁴ Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
⁶ School Health and Nutrition, Department of Education and Children Protection, Save the Children US, Washington, DC, USA.
⁷ Research Unit, Menstrual Health Hub, Berlin, Germany.
⁸ Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.

Abstract

Background: Research on menstrual health is required to understand menstrual needs and generate solutions to improve health, wellbeing, and productivity. The identification of research priorities will help inform where to invest efforts and resources.

Objectives: To identify research priorities for menstrual health across the life-course, in consultation with a range of stakeholder groups from a variety of geographic regions, and to identify if menstrual health research priorities varied by expertise.

Methods: A modified version of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative approach was utilized to reach consensus on a set of research priorities. Multisector stakeholders with menstrual health expertise, identified through networks and the literature, were invited to submit research questions through an online survey. Responses were consolidated, and individuals were invited to rank these questions based on novelty, potential for intervention, and importance/impact. Research priority scores were calculated and evaluated by participants' characteristics.

Results: Eighty-two participants proposed 1135 research questions, which were consolidated into 94 unique research questions. The mean number of questions did not differ between low- and middle-income country (LMIC) and high-income country (HIC) participants, but significantly more questions were raised by participants with expertise in mental health and WASH. Sixty-six participants then ranked these questions. The top ten-ranked research questions included four on 'understanding the problem', four on 'designing and implementing interventions', one on 'integrating and scaling up', and one on 'measurement'. Indicators for the measurement of adequate menstrual health over time was ranked the highest priority by all stakeholders. Top ten-ranked research questions differed between academics and non-academics, and between participants from HICs and LMICs, reflecting differences in needs and knowledge gaps.

Conclusions: A list of ranked research priorities was generated through a consultative process with stakeholders across LMICs and HICs which can inform where to invest efforts and resources.

Keywords: Education; Menstrual hygiene management; WASH; gender equity; menstrual health.

MeSH terms

Child
Child Health
Developing Countries*
Health Priorities
Humans
Research Design*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This work was funded through the Global Menstrual Collective. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.