Addressing Menstrual Health Inequities Among Teenage Mothers in Refugee Settlements in Northern Uganda

Menstrual health is a critical component of public health, gender equity, and human rights; however, it remains insufficiently prioritized in humanitarian settings. Teenage mothers living in refugee settlements face intersecting vulnerabilities related to adolescence, motherhood, poverty, and displacement, increasing their risk of menstrual health inequities. This article explores menstrual health challenges among teenage mothers in refugee settlements in Northern Uganda and identifies opportunities for improving their well-being and dignity.

This article draws on experience-informed observations and published literature to synthesize evidence on menstrual health challenges among teenage mothers in refugee settlements, including Nyumanzi, Bidi Bidi, and Rhino Camp. Key challenges and potential interventions were identified through a contextual analysis of existing evidence and humanitarian health priorities.

Teenage mothers in refugee settlements experience multiple barriers to adequate menstrual health, including menstrual stigma, limited access to affordable menstrual products, inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, exclusion from menstrual health education, and gaps in adolescent and maternal health services. These challenges contribute to poor menstrual hygiene practices, psychosocial distress, reduced participation in education, and impaired quality of life. Addressing these inequities requires integrated approaches, including incorporating menstrual health into reproductive and maternal health services, strengthening community and peer-led education, supporting sustainable menstrual product initiatives, improving gender-responsive WASH infrastructure, and engaging communities to challenge harmful menstrual norms.

Improving menstrual health among teenage mothers in refugee settlements requires multi-sectoral, context-specific interventions that extend beyond traditional school-based approaches. Integrating menstrual health into humanitarian response, reproductive health programs, and community development initiatives can promote dignity, equity, and social inclusion for one of the most marginalized groups in displacement settings.