Menstrual Hygiene Management in Emergency Situations: A Case Study of Kigeme Refugee Camp, Southern Rwanda

Abstract

Introduction: Menstruation is part of the female reproductive health, occurring once in every month during the reproductive age, generally between 12 to 49 years. Management of menstruation requires adequate materials, facilities and privacy. The emergency situation affect menstruating girls and women as it disrupts their normal coping mechanisms. This study aims to document knowledge, support and facilities given to menstruating girls and women in Kigeme Refugee Camp to highlight gaps and provide recommendations. Methods: The descriptive and explorative qualitative study was carried out in Kigeme Refugee Camp. Focus Group Discussions and In-depth interviews were used to collect data on women, girls and relief organizations; while observation with photos taken was used to explore some of the facilities that women use to manage their menstrual periods in the camp. Participants to this study were in five main categories: girls aged 14-17, girls 18-22, mothers 25-45, mothers more than 46 and relief organizations working in the Camp with different roles in relation to what menstruating girls and women need. Results: Women and girls shared their experiences in relation to their knowledge on menstruation, support in terms of materials and facilities they get in the camp, as well as gaps in terms of that support. Relief organizations gave information on how they support menstruating girls and women as well as the challenges they face in that regard. Knowledge of menstruation differed from different categories of our study population: girls proved to have more biological knowledge of menses as they learn it from schools, while women had more knowledge on how to manage manses hygienically. Girls and women expressed their concern about their dignity and the insufficient support given to them in the camp. Relief organizations expressed concern about the limited resources to respond to all needs, including needs on MHM.