Climate change acts as a driver of existing health vulnerabilities, worsening issues such as access to safe water, health care, education and food insecurity. The effects of climate change are already evident and are expected to worsen. The impacts include substantial increases in average temperatures,extreme heat events and severe droughts leading to uninhabitable areas.
This technical brief commissioned by UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office and the Africa Coalition on Menstrual Health, explores the relationship between climate change and its impact on the menstrual health of women, girls, and people who menstruate in Africa. It highlights how climate change acts as a driver of existing health vulnerabilities, particularly affecting access to safe water, healthcare, education, and food security, which are all crucial for menstrual health.
The brief also points out the gaps in existing research specifically focusing on the interplay between climate change and menstrual health, emphasizing the need to mainstream menstrual health into climate change policies and preparedness plans, strengthen health and education systems to address menstrual needs during climate-related disasters, and conduct further research on this critical issue. The information presented is based on a literature review conducted between 2018 and 2023, with a focus on the African region.
