Advancing Women’s Access to Menstrual-Friendly Toilets towards Ending Period Poverty: A Public Health Imperative in the Philippines
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: 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 Deep-rooted stigma, outdated land-use practices, and a lack of gender-sensitive planning have resulted in fragmented and inconsistent menstrual hygiene infrastructure.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.
Institutions: University of Makati, Far Eastern University, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Benguet State University, Southern Leyte State University, De La Salle University, Biliran Province State University, Bukidnon State University, Samar State University, Eastern Visayas State University, Palompon Institute of Technology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W4411855459