Eswatini 2024 — 177 women & men interviewed

Locations: Manzini and Mbabane

Two women standing outdoors, smiling, holding small plastic bags. One woman is wearing a pink shirt and jeans and the other is wearing a yellow skirt and a dark brown jacket with a logo. They are in front of a beige wall with posters and a barred window.

36.1% of women indicated they were unaware of what a period was prior to menarche

“I remember thinking, what’s wrong with me, what is happening? I thought I was injured”

45.6% of participants reported that the availability of products was low

"It is hard to have money to buy pads when that money could go to bread, meat, rent and things like that: necessities"

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Group of six young people standing indoors near pool table, smiling for the photo.

34.5% of male participants reported that they knew nothing about menstruation.

“I remember laughing and making jokes about girls on their periods in primary, we were responding out of ignorance."