USAID's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Partnerships and Learning for Sustainability (WASHPaLS) activity invested in action research in 2019-2022 to better understand the relationship between menstruation and women’s opportunities for economic empowerment and growth. Taking place in two factories in Nepal and two in Kenya, the action research took a multi-pronged approach. In order to improve menstruation-related challenges identified by employees during formative research, USAID developed and delivered a series of behavior change communication (BCC) assets to employees at participating factories. In Nepal, BCC materials depicted MHH situations in the workplace or on the grounds where the workers live. This included a three-part edutainment video for auditory and visual learning. The series addresses the physiology of menstruation, proper use and disposal of menstrual hygiene materials, workplace culture, supportive work environment and menstruation-related taboos. Employees at the factories at which these were used reported increased self-confidence discussing menstruation after viewing the videos and other BCC materials.
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