1wE4FuZ

In parallel with households, other entities produce waste. This is the case of the TextileFibres Development Company (cotton waste), the market and the hospital. The hospitalhas an incinerator. However, to care for the environment and prevent air pollution, thishospital equipment needs to adopt new technologies for the management of medicaland biomedical waste.The absence of a waste management system in the region has an impact on the disposalof menstruation-related waste. Thus, toilets are the most-used places for the disposal ofthis waste (64.1% of respondents). Almost 10% (9.9% of respondents) throw waste intodustbins, 7.1% get rid of their sanitary protection in the river or stream, and 6.1% bury it.Beliefs and myths around menstrual blood explain why menstruation is managedcovertly. Fabric is washed, rinsed and dried in the toilet. It is kept out of sight.Moreover, 12.8% of girls and women keep their old protective fabric. They never throwit away, because of mystical beliefs.Figure 13Method used to dispose of absorbent material7%13%Outcomes of the study6%10%64%The management of menstrual hygiene by girls and womenliving with a disabilityGirls and women living with a disability represent 2.51% of the sample. They mainlyhave two types of disability: a disability of the upper or lower limbs, or visualdisabilities.To the question “Does anyone help you at home, at school or at work during your periods?”78.9% of respondents living with a disability said they had no help at home, at schoolor at work. They sort things out for themselves to manage their menstrual hygiene,facing the following difficulties:––Keeping their sanitary protection in place: this is a difficulty for 36.8% ofrespondents living with a disability.––Caring for the protection: girls and women living with a visual disability saidthat even if the fabric was properly washed, the fact that they could not see itworried them. They feel an increased need for help during this period.––A difficulty in accessing and using toilets: toilets are not suitable. Respondents saidthey often fell down when toilets were tiled.Thus, people living with disabilities said they significantly reduced their travelwhen they had their periods.48