Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) economists have investigated social influences on the menstrual hygiene of workers in Bangladesh.

Silvia F. Castro and Clarissa Mang from the LMU-Department of Economics have conducted a study on how stigma in Bangladesh affect women's menstrual health practices. Their paper "Breaking the silence—Group discussions and the adoption of menstrual health technologies" is now being published in the Journal of Development Economics, at almost the same time as this year's Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Castro discusses their findings here.

What are women in Bangladesh up against during their period?

They're up against a massive stigma surrounding menstruation. While this is present worldwide, in many parts of the Asian subcontinent it restricts women's access to much desired menstrual products.