Absorbents, practices, and infrastructures: Changing socio-material landscapes of menstrual waste in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Keywords: Social practices; menstrual waste; urban infrastructures; water and sanitation; menstrual hygiene management; Lilongwe; prácticas sociales; desecho menstrual; infraestructuras urbanas; agua y saneamiento; manejo de la higiene menstrual; pratiques sociales; déchets menstruels; infrastructure urbaine; eau et assainissement; gestion de l'hygiène intime EN Social practices menstrual waste urban infrastructures water and sanitation menstrual hygiene management Lilongwe ES prácticas sociales desecho menstrual infraestructuras urbanas agua y saneamiento manejo de la higiene menstrual FR pratiques sociales déchets menstruels infrastructure urbaine eau et assainissement gestion de l'hygiène intime 1057 1077 21 10/12/22 20221001 NES 221001 Introduction Women[1] in global South countries are experiencing a rapid shift in access to menstrual absorbents; often referred to as the Menstrual or Sanitary Pad Revolution (Bloom, [6]; Venema, [70]). Practice theory in a post-developmental context Social practice theories encompass a diversity of approaches that have in common the use of practices as a category of analysis or as a point of departure for empirical work (Miettinen et al., [42]; Stern, [63]). Practices of disposal in sanitation systems now render infrastructures supposedly dysfunctional (e.g., blocked, incompatible with emptying), despite latrine disposal previously being supported by some sanitation and MHM actors. Discussion: learning from women's local practices, planning for menstrual waste In this article we have provided a practice-based account of menstrual waste management practices of women living in LIAs and planned areas in Lilongwe. [Extracted from the article]