Oveisi, Niki

The following report, prepared for Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), provides a highlevel environmental scan of promising programs and initiatives to increase menstrual equity and address period poverty. The report shares findings from programs and initiatives both inside and outside Canada. The current report is one of three submitted to WAGE: Literature review, Qualitative research and High-level environmental scan. The report begins with a summary overview of relevant context factors which informed the methodology and analysis. Findings are broken down within and outside Canada across four main categories: distribution (of menstrual supplies), education, advocacy and research. We conclude with a section on the strengths and limitations of the present research.

The following report, prepared for Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), presents findings from exploratory research based on qualitative interviews with 31 menstrual equity advocates in Canada. This report is one of three submitted to WAGE: Literature review, Qualitative research and High-level environmental scan. The report begins with providing a brief context related to menstrual equity advocacy and advocates in Canada. It then turns to an overview of the methodology, including the study design, participant recruitment, study tools (e.g. survey, interview guide) and analysis. A detailed overview of the study population is provided. Results are presented by themes: the current landscape of menstrual inequity and distribution, education, advocacy, and research. Results are presented in a largely descriptive fashion with some preliminary links to existing literature. We conclude with a discussion of the strengths and limitations of the present study.

The following report, prepared for Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), provides a review of literature reflecting current knowledge about menstrual equity, the extent of period poverty in Canada and future research directions. The report also includes a summary overview of key terms and concepts, frameworks and context factors relevant to the present study. Analysis was guided by the PROGRESS-Plus approach (1), which serves to ensure an equity lens in research. The current report is one of three submitted to WAGE: Literature review, Qualitative research, and High-level environmental scan. Research examining menstruation, the menstrual cycle and the lived experiences of menstruators has been historically marginalized (2). Recent years have seen a proliferation of research and literature; however, primarily within global public health or countries outside Canada (3). Here in Canada, we are just beginning to understand the differential impacts of period poverty on vulnerable and marginalized groups, as well as the range of systemic factors that shape menstrual inequities. Existing Canadian scholarly and grey publications reflect the nascent character of menstrual equity knowledge in Canada, while acknowledging the importance of key frameworks for directing future research.