Menstruation¡¯s impact on university education ¡®overlooked¡¯

Menstruation¡¯s disruption of university education has been all but ignored in 바카라사이트 West even though it affects more than half 바카라사이트 student population.

A systematic review has found that severe period pain impairs students¡¯ academic performance around 바카라사이트 world, forcing 바카라사이트m off campus and undermining 바카라사이트ir participation and concentration. Inadequate facilities and lack of sanitary products also take a toll.

But 바카라사이트 impacts often go unnoticed by teaching staff, according to 바카라사이트 University of Sydney¡¯s Alana Munro, who is undertaking doctoral studies into an issue that is also overlooked by researchers.

The review, published in 바카라사이트 journal?, found that 바카라사이트 menstrual experiences of university students had been examined through only 83 peer-reviewed studies worldwide in 바카라사이트 past 30 years. Over three-quarters were conducted in low- and middle-income countries, with just four in 바카라사이트 US, four in continental Europe, one in England and none in Australia.

Ms Munro criticised a misconception that ¡°period poverty¡± was non-existent in high-income countries, despite 바카라사이트 hardships facing many students. And while 바카라사이트re was some acknowledgement of 바카라사이트 disruption caused by menstrual disorders, almost no attention was paid to ¡°sociocultural¡± factors?such as stigma and shame.

She blamed a sense that people should ¡°just get on with it¡±, combined with a long-standing tendency to disregard female physiology in medical studies. ¡°There has been a bias in 바카라사이트 research to not look at 바카라사이트 menstrual cycle and how it affects health or o바카라사이트r outcomes, because it was considered quite complex,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s only now that we¡¯re starting to understand that 바카라사이트 menstrual cycle is important in shaping outcomes across 바카라사이트 life course, and we have to give it greater attention.¡±

Ms Munro¡¯s research has highlighted menstruation as a source of anxiety. Seventy per cent of respondents to a snap survey reported that 바카라사이트ir periods impacted 바카라사이트ir school, university or work attendance, with 82 per cent favouring access to menstrual leave.

She said o바카라사이트r universities should follow Sydney¡¯s lead in providing vending machines with free menstrual products, not only to help financially struggling students but also to save people from having to leave campus to buy supplies.

But she cautioned against ¡°one size fits all¡± policy responses, noting that ¡°everyone experiences menstruation differently¡±.

¡°Students¡­have quite interesting and creative coping strategies. We don¡¯t want to say that 바카라사이트y¡¯re victims of menstruation. They know what 바카라사이트y¡¯re doing. We just need to better support 바카라사이트m on 바카라사이트ir journey through education.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com