Providing MHM solutions has the potential to greatly decrease the risk of sexual and gender based violence among Nigerian school girls.
A study carried out by HAFAI in two rural community secondary schools in Abuja revealed that absence rates went from 24% before kits distribution to 8% after kit distribution in 3months proving that girls miss days from school due to lack of access to reliable sanitary protection. The teachers also mentioned that often times they see girls leave class with stains on their uniforms and most times girls are less involved in class activities. Also 72% of the girls interviewed said they did not have knowledge about menstruation before onset of menarche. Most of them thought menstruation was a kind of curse or an illness.
Oral interview with some girls also revealed that they sometimes exchange sex for money to attend to their menstrual hygiene needs. Thus, providing MHM solutions has the potential to greatly decrease the risk of sexual and gender based violence among Nigerian school girls. Talking to girls about menstruation also opens a window to talk to them about sexual rights, gender inequality, rape, sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, child early forced marriage and female genital mutilation.