Improved menstrual health and the workplace: an RCT with female Bangladeshi garment workers

Kristina Czura, Andreas Menzel and Martina Miotto
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Andreas Menzel: CERGE-EI, Prague
Martina Miotto: CERGE-EI, Prague, and CAGE

CAGE Online Working Paper Series from Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE)

Abstract: Menstruation can limit female labor force participation, especially in low-income countries, where menstrual hygiene practices are constrained by lack of finances and information. In a randomized controlled trial with around 1,900 female workers from four Bangladeshi garment factories, we relax both constraints individually and jointly by providing free sanitary pads and information. Both access to sanitary pads and information improve menstrual practices, either by the adoption of new technologies, or by knowledge gains and improved use of traditional materials, and both interventions improve health outcomes. However, these positive effects do not translate to better labor outcomes, such as earnings and work attendance.

Keywords: Menstrual Health; Health Behavior; Labor Force Participation; Export Manufacturing JEL Classification: O14; O15; O35; M54; J32; J81 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-hea and nep-lab
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https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/c ... tions/wp653.2023.pdf

Related works:
Journal Article: Improved menstrual health and the workplace: An RCT with female Bangladeshi garment workers (2024)
Working Paper: Improved Menstrual Health and the Workplace: An RCT with Female Bangladeshi Garment Workers (2023)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cge:wacage:653

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