Other Titles
Collaborative Development of a Culturally Responsive WASH Trainer's Manual for Girls in Nigeria [Title Slide]
Abstract
Background: Menstrual hygiene management is a global public health concern. Moreover, cultural norms, stigma, and myths or taboos further hinder the achievement of menstrual health, contributing to absenteeism and gender-based inequalities (Babbar et al., 2022). A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2024) found that 2 out of 5 schools provide menstrual health education, and less than 1 in 3 schools have bins for menstrual waste in girls’ toilets. In sub-Saharan Africa, 12% of schools have menstrual materials available. To address these issues, a WASH educational document was created by a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Nigeria. However, this document required refinement to ensure cultural relevance and alignment with global best practices.
Purpose: The purpose of this interprofessional collaboration was to revise an existing WASH menstrual education document to reflect the most current evidence on menstrual health education. The project addressed the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) (Harerimana et al. 2025; United Nations, 2025).
Method: A focused literature review was conducted using UN, WHO, UNICEF, and other relevant peer-reviewed databases on menstrual health and menstrual hygiene. The revisions prioritized finding the most current, culturally appropriate evidence for the target population. The interdisciplinary team met virtually, by phone (WhatsApp), and through collaborative writing sessions to ensure that the document reflected best practices and cultural appropriateness.
Results: The revised document integrated best practice guidelines on menstrual health education and WASH principles specific to menstrual hygiene. Feedback from educators and community leaders reported reduced menstruation-related absenteeism and strengthened school-community dialogue on the importance of menstrual education.
Implication for Nursing: The American Nurses Association code of ethics mandates that nursing advance a vision of a healthy global society and sustainable environmental practices. Through interprofessional collaboration, nursing can advance health equity and directly support the UN's SDGs for menstrual health, education, gender equality, and clean water and sanitation (American Nurses Association, 2025; Baumann et al., 2022).
Notes
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References:
Babbar, K., Martin, J., Ruiz, J., Parray, A. A., & Sommer, M. (2022). Menstrual health is a public health and human rights issue. The Lancet. Public health, 7(1), e10–e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00212-7
Baumann, S. L., & Shaw, H. K. (2022). Improving global health and nursing's international influence. Nursing science quarterly, 35(3), 368–373. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184221092437
Harerimana, A., Mchunu, G., & Pillay, J. D. (2025). Menstrual hygiene management among girls and women refugees in Africa: A scoping review. Conflict and health, 19(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00657-1
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) 2024). Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in schools 2015–2023: Special focus on menstrual health. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240097490
United Nations (2025). The sustainable development goals report. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2025/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2025.pdf
Sigma Membership
Chi Phi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Sustainable Development Goals, Interprofessional Initiatives, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Feminine Hygiene Products, Hygiene, Educational Programs, Nigeria
Recommended Citation
Ojurongbe, Sandra and Kinlaw-Williams, Nakisha, "WASH Project: Promoting Menstrual Hygiene Through Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 310.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/310
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-25
WASH Project: Promoting Menstrual Hygiene Through Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Menstrual hygiene management is a global public health concern. Moreover, cultural norms, stigma, and myths or taboos further hinder the achievement of menstrual health, contributing to absenteeism and gender-based inequalities (Babbar et al., 2022). A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2024) found that 2 out of 5 schools provide menstrual health education, and less than 1 in 3 schools have bins for menstrual waste in girls’ toilets. In sub-Saharan Africa, 12% of schools have menstrual materials available. To address these issues, a WASH educational document was created by a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Nigeria. However, this document required refinement to ensure cultural relevance and alignment with global best practices.
Purpose: The purpose of this interprofessional collaboration was to revise an existing WASH menstrual education document to reflect the most current evidence on menstrual health education. The project addressed the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) (Harerimana et al. 2025; United Nations, 2025).
Method: A focused literature review was conducted using UN, WHO, UNICEF, and other relevant peer-reviewed databases on menstrual health and menstrual hygiene. The revisions prioritized finding the most current, culturally appropriate evidence for the target population. The interdisciplinary team met virtually, by phone (WhatsApp), and through collaborative writing sessions to ensure that the document reflected best practices and cultural appropriateness.
Results: The revised document integrated best practice guidelines on menstrual health education and WASH principles specific to menstrual hygiene. Feedback from educators and community leaders reported reduced menstruation-related absenteeism and strengthened school-community dialogue on the importance of menstrual education.
Implication for Nursing: The American Nurses Association code of ethics mandates that nursing advance a vision of a healthy global society and sustainable environmental practices. Through interprofessional collaboration, nursing can advance health equity and directly support the UN's SDGs for menstrual health, education, gender equality, and clean water and sanitation (American Nurses Association, 2025; Baumann et al., 2022).
Description
This project showcased the role of nurses as global leaders. It involved an international collaboration aimed at revising an existing document on menstrual education and WASH principles for girls in Nigeria to global best-practice standards by integrating the most current evidence and culturally significant content. The revised iteration enhanced accuracy and supported key UN SDGs for girls in underserved secondary schools in Nigeria.