Faith Leaders & Family Planning/Menstrual Hygiene Management in Africa

Faith leaders are important gatekeepers in disseminating reproductive health messages and influencing positive behavior change within communities. Faith leaders are seen as the most powerful visible and reachable form of authority even trusted more than governments or non-profit organizations. Because of this influence faith leaders often have an unparalleled opportunity—indeed a moral obligation to prioritize conversations about family planning advocating and closing the contraception gap. This book looks into the activities of faith leaders in the use of family planning among their members and how faith leaders can be empowered to advocate for family planning. Millions of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa are dis-empowered by the simple biological process of menstruation. Affordable and hygienic sanitary protection is not available to girls in many areas. They resort to the use of unhygienic rags and cloths which puts them at the risk of infections. 1 in 10 menstruating African girls skip school four to five days per month or drop out completely. The second part of this book looks into menstrual hygiene management and impacts of reusable sanitary pads on schoolgirls in Africa.