Diploma Project Summary - Lovisa

Even though about a forth of the world's population are bleeding through their bodies once a month, menstruation is one of the most taboo and shameful topics in the world. In addition to the stigma surrounding menstruation, and the anxiety these days might imply for the individual,  disadvantageous circumstances for women to get their period might lead to devastating physical issues. Consequently, the purpose of this report was to illustrate the conditions adolescents and women in Sweden and Tanzania have to take care of their bodies during their period, and what consequences these circumstances might bring, with a focal point on physical issues, hygiene, social stigmas, health, and education.

The ambition was to collect as much information as needed to be able to make a comparative analysis between the two countries where similarities and differences would be discussed. The study was mainly carried out as a field study since the material gathering of the research was based on personal interviews, group discussions, and surveys. Additionally, literary studies was implemented.

The questions at issue were following:
- How does the situation look like in Tanzania, and what are the conditions tanzanian women have to take care of their bodies during their period?
- What consequences, with a focal point on physical issues, hygiene, social stigmas, health, and education, might these circumstances bring?
- How does female genital mutilation affect menstruation, and what consequences can it generate?
- How does the situation look like in comparison to Sweden’s?

Furthermore, the results show that physical consequences caused by incorrect menstrual care cover diseases like hepatitis B, TSS, PID, endometriosis, candida vaginitis, infertility, allergies and urinary infection.

The stigma surrounding periods causes secrecy, isolation, social alienation, negatively affected studies, taunts, humiliation and disgrace. On the other hand, the absence of a menstrual cycle might also induce shaming because of the reason that the woman is lacking the ability to get with child. Poor and insufficient sexual education leads to that myths surrounding menstruation continues to spread, and to inadequate handling of menstrual hygiene. Both of these factors can be hazardous.
Except for the psychological damage female genital mutilation creates through the trauma the violation causes, it also generates great physical consequences. Complications that might emerge during menstruation for women that have been circumcised incorporates dysmenorrhea, increased risk of infections, longer menstrual period, elevated pain around the vaginal vestibule, anxiety, irregular periods, and changed blood flow.

Moreover, tanzanian women often lack the access to safe places where they can take care of their period. This in combination with the absence of functioning sanitary pads affects their education, health and future. Because of aspects like poor financial status, education, and stronger cultural attitudes the most exposed group in Tanzania are the people living in rural areas. Both concerning the risk of getting diseases, having worse conditions to take care of their period, consequences of stronger taboos, and affected education. Even though bad menstrual hygiene has a great connection to the educational level achieved, it is not necessarily caused by poor financial circumstances.  Some argue that the action of giving out free sanitary pads should be prioritized in order to solve issues connected to bad menstrual health.  The dilemma with this is that it in some cases does not generate a solution if women still are unaware about how the sanitary products should be used, and how they are supposed to keep themselves properly clean.

By that means, the most important components to avoid bad menstrual health are following:
- Suitable sanitary products (no matter if they are handmade or commercial)
- Correct hygiene

In most cases these requirements are easy to meet, even with small economical means, as long as you got the knowledge behind it. Consequently, education comes before material supplies.
Thus, the most essential way to enforce a change, and give tanzanian women a better life standard, is though increased awareness about bad menstrual hygiene, and knowledge about how consequences can be prevented.

In conclusion, the current situation in Tanzania is of greater complexity than what was portrayed in previous research. Based on class, living area and ethnicity, the conditions women have to take care of their bodies during menstruation differ. Although disadvantageous conditions are mainly rooted in economics, the most effective solution fighting dangerous consequences of improper menstrual hygiene lies in proper education.