Human-Centered Design and Piloting of a Manually Powered Spinner to Facilitate Washing and Drying of Reusable Menstrual Pads in Bangladesh Urban Slums

Discarded menstrual hygiene products contribute to hundreds of thousands of tons of waste each year. In Bangladesh, where waste management systems are lacking, disposable pads clog latrines and canals. Reusable menstrual cloths are more environmentally friendly and affordable. However, stigma prevents girls and women from washing and drying reusable cloths hygienically in open view. The use of insufficiently clean and dry cloths may contribute to reproductive and urinary tract infections.