Menstruation Education at Schools

Output

number of targeted students (male/female) who have received education about menstruation

This indicator measures the extent to which menstrual health education interventions are reaching their intended student population. It helps assess programme delivery and inclusion of both girls and boys in learning, which is essential for improving menstrual literacy, reducing stigma, and promoting supportive school environments.

There are three main ways to obtain the required data:

1. School administration records: Use official school records if they reliably track which students participated in menstruation education sessions. This option is recommended when the quality of school data can be trusted and no survey among students is planned.

2. Implementing agency records: If menstruation education was delivered by actors other than teachers (e.g. NGO staff, health workers), and if their data quality can be trusted, you may rely on their records.

3. Student survey: If you plan to conduct a survey among students (for example, to assess their knowledge, attitudes, or practices), you can include a direct question such as: “During the last [specify time period], did you participate in a lesson where the teacher or another facilitator taught you about menstruation and menstrual health?”

The indicator’s value is the total number of students who received education about menstruation during the defined timeframe.

Disaggregate the data by gender, grade, school and rural vs. urban schools.

1) Ensure clarity on what qualifies as menstruation education. According to the guidance below, this should include biological aspects, practical hygiene management, disposal practices, and the social/gender dimensions of menstruation.

2) Define clearly which students are “targeted” (e.g. all students in grades 6–8, or specific intervention groups).

3) This indicator measures reach, not quality. Complement it with indicators on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (see in the guidance below) to capture outcomes of education.