Menstrual Health Actions: Pathways Between Brazil and Argentina

• Grant number: 23/08491-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 16, 2024
• End date: December 15, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Natália Sevilha Stofel
• Grantee: Maria Gabriele Formis Silva
• Supervisor: Ornela Barone Zallocco
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/08130-0 - PROMOTING MENSTRUAL DIGNITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SCHOOL MANAGEMENT, BP.IC

Abstract

Menstruation is a social, cultural, and biological process surrounded by stigmas that impact the lives of those who menstruate, particularly those in vulnerable situations. In this context, menstrual poverty is an important marker of social inequalities, and promoting menstrual health is crucial for the healthy development of individuals, incorporating considerations of social equity and sexual and reproductive justice. Menstrual poverty affects millions of people in Latin America, including countries like Brazil and Argentina. In a quick comparison, Brazil began creating projects and laws focused on menstrual health in 2022, primarily centered on the distribution of menstrual management products. In contrast, Argentina addressed this issue and proposed solutions in 2020 through legislative projects aimed at eliminating taxes on menstrual hygiene products, providing free distribution, and recognizing the importance of educational initiatives on the subject. Therefore, this study aims to understand the perceptions of teachers, school administrators, and Argentine students regarding the promotion of Menstrual Dignity.