As South African women, this is a term we should all familiarise ourselves with, even if we don’t experience it ourselves. In SA, period poverty affects an estimated 7 to 8 million women and girls who lack consistent access to safe, affordable menstrual products, functional sanitation facilities, or adequate health education. It remains a significant socioeconomic driver of gender inequality across the country. Key Impact Areas - 30% of SA schoolgirls miss up to a week of sc

Researchers: Dorothy A Machalek, PhD; Dorothy C Nyemba, PhD; Danielle Travill; Prof Kathy Petoumenos, PhD; Zizipho Z A Mbulawa, PhD; Ishana Naidoo, BTech MSc; et al. April 2026 What Is The Study About? A school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme providing protection against types 16 and 18 of HPV was introduced in South Africa in 2014 for Grade 4 girls (aged ≥9 years), achieving 87% coverage among learners with at least one of the two recommended do