Menstrual Hygiene Products as a Basic Need: What Can Scotland’s Action Campaign Teach About Improving Public Health Worldwide?

Abstract

In 2020, Scotland became the first country in the world to acknowledge menstrual hygiene products as a basic need. Over several years, the country has gradually implemented a public health policy making menstrual hygiene products free for all who need them. However, many questions remain unresolved. This case explores key challenges and processes involved in Scotland’s public health campaign for menstrual hygiene management. From this case, students can learn consideration of basic stakeholder analysis for applying similar action campaigns in other countries, and they can begin building a vocabulary for public policy that integrates social justice, economics, and the environment more broadly.