Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the Philippines
Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) remains critically neglected in the Philippines despite its fundamental role in promoting the well-being, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls. This persistent lapse disproportionately impacts the well-being, education, and social mobility of women and girls...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Center for Policy, Research and Development Studies
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://rmrj.usjr.edu.ph/rmrj/index.php/RMRJ/article/view/2755 |
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| author | Jerico Ogaya Ryan Guinaran Catherine Alesna John Don Opina Shaila Pilo Vic Arthur Masliyan Christian Joseph Ong Pearl Irish De Paz Carina Joane Barroso Rheajane Rosales Analyn Españo Don Eliseo III Lucero-Prisno |
| author_facet | Jerico Ogaya Ryan Guinaran Catherine Alesna John Don Opina Shaila Pilo Vic Arthur Masliyan Christian Joseph Ong Pearl Irish De Paz Carina Joane Barroso Rheajane Rosales Analyn Españo Don Eliseo III Lucero-Prisno |
| author_sort | Jerico Ogaya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) remains critically neglected in the Philippines despite its fundamental role in promoting the well-being, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls. This persistent lapse disproportionately impacts the well-being, education, and social mobility of women and girls across the country. Deep-rooted stigma, outdated land-use practices, and a lack of gender-sensitive planning have resulted in fragmented and inconsistent menstrual hygiene infrastructure. While promising initiatives—such as localized policies, educational campaigns, and innovative digital tools like period tracking apps—have begun to surface, these efforts remain isolated, lack scalability, and often face resistance from conservative sectors. This perspective article highlights the urgent need to mainstream MHH within the country’s public health and development frameworks. By institutionalizing gender-sensitive sanitation infrastructure, ensuring privacy and dignity in public spaces, and adopting inclusive tools such as the Menstrual-Friendly Public Toilet (MFPT) Toolkit, the Philippines can begin to dismantle systemic barriers in advancing access to MFPT. Tackling period poverty is an integral step towards building a more equitable and inclusive society for all. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-612e18e3f14b455fa8d25a85def2a327 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2423-1398 2408-3755 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Center for Policy, Research and Development Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-612e18e3f14b455fa8d25a85def2a3272025-08-20T03:15:18ZengCenter for Policy, Research and Development StudiesRecoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal2423-13982408-37552025-06-0113120120910.32871/rmrj2513.01.16Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the PhilippinesJerico Ogaya0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3595-8643Ryan Guinaran1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7862-0790Catherine Alesna2https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6448-7718John Don Opina3https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4689-6750Shaila Pilo4https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0456-0684Vic Arthur Masliyan5https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3767-3248Christian Joseph Ong6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0096-9773Pearl Irish De Paz7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2265-6564Carina Joane Barroso8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7418-9390Rheajane Rosales9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6449-0606Analyn Españo10https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8718-3337Don Eliseo III Lucero-Prisno11https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2179-6365(1) Department of Medical Technology, Institute of Health Sciences and Nursing, Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines; (2) Center for University Research, University of Makati, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines(1) AIDS Healthcare Foundation Philippines, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines; (2) Benguet State University Open University, La Trinidad, Benguet, PhilippinesSouthern Leyte State University, Sogod, Southern Leyte, PhilippinesSouthern Leyte State University, Sogod, Southern Leyte, PhilippinesLeadership and Youth Advocacy Development Program, Benguet, PhilippinesAIDS Healthcare Foundation Philippines, Cubao, Quezon City, PhilippinesDepartment of Biology, College of Science, De La Salle University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences, Biliran Province State University, Naval, Biliran, PhilippinesCollege of Nursing, Bukidnon State University, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, PhilippinesCollege of Nursing and Health Sciences, Samar State University, Catbalogan City, Samar, PhilippinesOffice for Research, Development and Extension Services, Eastern Visayas State University, Tacloban City, Philippines(1) Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; (2) Research and Development Office, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Molo, Iloilo, Philippines; (3) Research Services Office, Palompon Institute of Technology, Palompon, Leyte, PhilippinesMenstrual health and hygiene (MHH) remains critically neglected in the Philippines despite its fundamental role in promoting the well-being, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls. This persistent lapse disproportionately impacts the well-being, education, and social mobility of women and girls across the country. Deep-rooted stigma, outdated land-use practices, and a lack of gender-sensitive planning have resulted in fragmented and inconsistent menstrual hygiene infrastructure. While promising initiatives—such as localized policies, educational campaigns, and innovative digital tools like period tracking apps—have begun to surface, these efforts remain isolated, lack scalability, and often face resistance from conservative sectors. This perspective article highlights the urgent need to mainstream MHH within the country’s public health and development frameworks. By institutionalizing gender-sensitive sanitation infrastructure, ensuring privacy and dignity in public spaces, and adopting inclusive tools such as the Menstrual-Friendly Public Toilet (MFPT) Toolkit, the Philippines can begin to dismantle systemic barriers in advancing access to MFPT. Tackling period poverty is an integral step towards building a more equitable and inclusive society for all.https://rmrj.usjr.edu.ph/rmrj/index.php/RMRJ/article/view/2755menstruationperiod povertypublic toiletsmenstrual-friendly public toiletinfrastructurehygienewashphilippines |
| spellingShingle | Jerico Ogaya Ryan Guinaran Catherine Alesna John Don Opina Shaila Pilo Vic Arthur Masliyan Christian Joseph Ong Pearl Irish De Paz Carina Joane Barroso Rheajane Rosales Analyn Españo Don Eliseo III Lucero-Prisno Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the Philippines Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal menstruation period poverty public toilets menstrual-friendly public toilet infrastructure hygiene wash philippines |
| title | Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the Philippines |
| title_full | Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the Philippines |
| title_fullStr | Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the Philippines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the Philippines |
| title_short | Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the Philippines |
| title_sort | advancing women s access to menstrual friendly toilets towards ending period poverty a public health imperative in the philippines |
| topic | menstruation period poverty public toilets menstrual-friendly public toilet infrastructure hygiene wash philippines |
| url | https://rmrj.usjr.edu.ph/rmrj/index.php/RMRJ/article/view/2755 |
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