Impactos da pobreza menstrual em adolescentes de países classificados como de baixa e média renda: revisão de literatura

Abstract

Adolescence is a period marked by important biological, psychological, and social transformations, in which menstruation represents a significant physiological event. However, the lack of access to resources, adequate infrastructure, health services, and information for proper menstrual hygiene management characterizes menstrual poverty, a condition that particularly affects adolescents in low- and middle-income countries and has repercussions on different aspects of health and quality of life. This study aimed to analyze the scientific evidence published in the last five years regarding the impacts of menstrual poverty on the lives of adolescents aged 10 to 19 years living in low- and middle-income countries. This is an integrative literature review structured through the PICO strategy and conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases. The selection of the ten included studies followed previously established criteria, and a standardized instrument was used for data extraction and analysis. The results demonstrated that menstrual poverty is associated with physical health impairments resulting from inadequate menstrual hygiene conditions and mental health consequences related to feelings of shame, fear, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Furthermore, educational repercussions were identified, including school absenteeism and learning difficulties, as well as social impacts related to restrictions on participation in daily activities and the perpetuation of gender inequalities. Cultural aspects, including menstrual taboos, beliefs, and stigmas, were identified as factors that intensify the impacts observed across the analyzed dimensions. It is concluded that menstrual poverty constitutes a complex and multifaceted phenomenon with significant repercussions on adolescents’ health, education, and social inclusion, highlighting the need for intersectoral actions aimed at promoting menstrual dignity and reducing health inequalities.