MENSTRUAL HEALTH LITERACY AND REPRODUCTIVE AWARENESS AMONGVULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: LESSONS FOR NIGERIA

Abstract

Menstrual health literacy (MHL) and reproductive awareness are essential for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among women and girls worldwide. Insufficient MHL greatly impacts vulnerable groups in low- and middle-income countries, such as adolescents and girls with disabilities. Nigeria exemplifies this issue, with its significant adolescent birth rate of 107.3 per 1,000 women aged 15–19, highlighting the need for policy-focused investigations. This scoping review aimed to explore the evidence on menstrual health literacy (MHL) and reproductive awareness among vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It focused on synthesizing barriers to accessing menstrual and reproductive health information, examining the psychosocial and educational consequences of menstrual health deficits, and identifying intervention strategies relevant to Nigeria. Utilizing the Arksey and O’Malley framework, enhanced by Levac et al. and reported per PRISMA-ScR guidelines, eight electronic databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed literature published between January 2010 and December 2025, resulting in 83 studies that met the inclusion criteria.A thematic charting approach identified six key domains regarding menstrual and reproductive health: knowledge gaps, awareness deficits, barriers to information access, psychosocial consequences, educational outcomes, and intervention strategies. Findings highlighted prevalent knowledge deficits influenced by cultural taboos and inadequate WASH infrastructure, alongside institutional failures affecting overall wellbeing. Girls with disabilities and those in humanitarian contexts experience additional challenges. There is a critical need for comprehensive interventions within Nigeria’s reproductive health policies, emphasizing menstrual health literacy, especially for