Menstrual health remains an under-addressed issue for migrant women in Mexico, who face particular barriers to managing menstruation and accessing appropriate care. In the first three months of 2023, more than 28,000 migrant women and girls entered Mexico irregularly, with limited access to water, hygiene supplies, and menstrual products. Nationally, 21% of menstruating people reported difficulties purchasing menstrual products, while 66% had received little or no information at their first menstruation. These challenges are intensified by mobility, economic insecurity, limited water and sanitation, and difficulties navigating healthcare systems, affecting menstrual hygiene and access to reliable information, diagnosis, and treatment.
Community-based initiatives have been addressing these gaps, including efforts by shelters, civil society organisations, and agencies such as UNICEF and CADENA. However, menstrual health also requires an adequate response from health centres, particularly when symptoms require diagnosis or treatment. Yet, it remains unclear whether existing services adequately respond to the differentiated needs of migrant women.
This project examines the response of health centres and shelters to migrant women’s menstrual-health needs across the southern, central, and northern region of Mexico. The research seeks to identify gaps in accessibility and responsiveness, while highlighting practices that could contribute to more integral and dignified menstrual healthcare for migrant women.
