Access to Menstrual Hygiene Products in Nigeria: A Call for Legal Reforms

Abstract

Menstrual hygiene products, such as pads and tampons, are essential items for women and girls to
manage their monthly menstrual flow. However, in Nigeria, an estimated 37 million women and girls
suffer from period poverty, struggling to access or afford these vital products, as well as pain medication
and suitable underwear.1 The lack of access to affordable menstrual products forces many women and
girls to resort to unsafe and unsanitary alternatives, such as old clothes, rags, sawdust.2 These materials
are not only unhygienic but also environmental unfriendly. The unaffordability and inaccessibility of
menstrual products combined with the stigma surrounding menstruation, have far reaching negative
consequences for women and girls, severely limiting their participation in public life. Using doctrinal
research methodology, this paper examined the need of establishing a legal framework to guarantee
access to menstrual hygiene products in Nigeria. The paper revealed that the lack of access to menstrual
hygiene products has significant impacts on the health and well-being of women and girls. Establishing a
legal framework to guarantee access to menstrual hygiene products would be a crucial step towards
improving the lives of women and girls in Nigeria. By addressing this critical issue, Nigerian can make
significant progress towards promoting gender equality, protecting public health and supporting
sustainable development.
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