Background: Keeping girls in school offers them protection against early marriage, teen pregnancy, and sexual harms, and enhances social and economic equity. Studies report menstruation exacerbates school-drop out and poor attendance, although evidence is sparse.

Background: Increased education of girls in developing contexts is associated with a number of important positive health, social, and economic outcomes for a community.

Background. The onset of menstruation is a landmark event in the life of a young woman. Yet the complications and challenges that can accompany such an event have been understudied, specifically in resource-poor settings.

This booklet has been written to help school girls manage the critical period when they enter adolescence between the ages of 10 and 14. Adolescence is the time during which boys and girls grow from childhood into adulthood and changes take place in their bodies.

Cette brochure sur la santé reproductive des adolescents est le premier d'une série de quatre produite dans le cadre du programme d'orientation, de conseil et de développement de la jeunesse pour l'Afrique. Elle traite de la puberté et du cycle menstruel.

This issue of the journal Waterlines looks at experiences of menstrual hygiene management in schools in a number of countries.