Menstrual stigma, hygiene, and human capital: experimental evidence from Madagascar

Karen Macours, Julieta Vera Rueda and Duncan Webb

Nova SBE Working Paper Series from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics

Abstract: Menstrual stigma is pervasive in low- and middle-income countries, yet we know little about its consequences for girls’ human capital. In a field experiment in 140 schools in Madagascar (N=2,256), we evaluate a school hygiene program focused on reducing menstrual stigma through sanitation infrastructure, menstrual products, and teacher- and peer-led sensitization. The program generates substantial learning gains (0.15 SD) without improving attendance or health. The learning gains are instead explained by psychosocial mechanisms: reduced stigma, lower stress measured by heart rate, and a better school social climate. Our results suggest that menstruation can be a meaningful barrier to girls’ learning.

Keywords: Menstrual stigma; Learning outcomes; School climate; Psychosocial mechanisms; Social norms; Adolescent girls; Field experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 I12 I21 J16 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 95 pages
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://run.unl.pt/bitstreams/bef9a61c-973d-491f-b3fe-10fd35b6e1ce/download

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unl:unlfep:wp693

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Nova SBE Working Paper Series from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Susana Lopes ().