Guiding Kids in Navigating Menstruation
In Kenyan households, conversations about menstruation have evolved significantly, moving towards openness, education, and empowerment. Once shrouded in silence and taboo, periods are now being treated as a normal, healthy biological process rather than a source of shame.
Key changes in this shift include increased family engagement, the inclusion of boys in the conversation, and media and public discussions that challenge myths and taboos.
Beatrice Mwaniki, a mother from Gichagi, Ngong, is one of many parents breaking the cycle of silence. She recalls her own fear when her daughter Lynet asked if she was sick, and in response, Beatrice explained menstruation to her, setting a new standard for openness and education.
Similarly, Mary Naliaka, a house help in Kawangware, Nairobi, is encouraging her daughters to discuss menstruation openly, despite her initial discomfort. She believes that discussing menstruation should not be hidden or ashamed.
James Oduor, a boda boda rider and father of three, is also helping to rewrite the script on men's involvement in discussions about menstruation. He explains menstrual health to his daughter Achieng' when she comes to him with lower abdominal pain, and they watch a YouTube video together in Kiswahili about the topic.
In some schools, like a mixed secondary school in Mathare, both boys and girls attend reproductive health lessons together. This has been instrumental in changing boys' perceptions, with reported shifts from 0% to 100% of boys agreeing that menstruation is a healthy, natural process after targeted training programs.
National and local media platforms, including radio talk shows and television programs, have played a crucial role in raising awareness by unpacking menstrual myths and challenging taboos. Shows like K24 Television's Mchipuko Show have featured live demonstrations and discussions about menstrual products and dignity, while radio shows in regions such as Kwale and West Pokot actively debate these issues, pushing for policy reforms and cultural change.
Campaigns like Kenya Ni Mimi's "Colorful Conversations" have also been instrumental in tackling menstrual health and hygiene, encouraging communities to break the silence and engage in meaningful conversations about menstruation.
As a result, the narrative around menstruation in Kenya is shifting from secrecy and stigma to education, inclusivity, and advocacy. Parents like Beatrice, Wanja's mother, look on with quiet satisfaction as their children transform from fearful to fearless, taking control of their bodies and their lives.
Twelve-year-old Lynet Wanja, standing quietly by her one-room house's door in Gichagi, Ngong, with her school dress tied around her waist and an old hoodie draped over her hips, is a testament to this change. Beatrice sits down on the edge of the bed and pulls Lynet beside her, presenting her with a brown envelope containing sanitary pads, cotton panties, and a handwritten note. The note reads: "You are strong. You are growing. You are normal."
These conversations, driven by parents, media, and community initiatives, are fostering environments where parents and children can openly discuss menstrual health as part of everyday life and social progress.
- The evolution in Kenyan households about menstruation has led to a change in the way men's businesses perceive this topic, with more fathers like James Oduor openly discussing menstrual health with their daughters.
- Women's health has become a significant focus in discussions surrounding health and wellness, as women like Beatrice Mwaniki and Mary Naliaka take the initiative to educate their daughters about menstruation, challenging long-standing taboos.
- Science and public health campaigns, such as Kenya Ni Mimi's "Colorful Conversations," have played a crucial role in promoting awareness about menstrual health and hygiene, advocating for policy reforms and cultural change.
- In some educational institutions, like the mixed secondary school in Mathare, misconceptions about menstruation are being addressed through inclusive sex education programs, positively impacting students' understanding of this natural biological process.
