The evolving landscape of menstrual product advertisements in the United States: 2008-2018.

As menstrual product advertising evolves within the United States, it is important to understand how advertising messages, which have been shown to impact self-esteem and feelings of shame, may be influencing young people today. We analyzed menstrual product advertising over ten years (2008-2018) through a survey (n = 198) and focus groups (n = 21) with college and graduate student-aged adults. Three themes emerged: an emphasis on femininity and shame; the presence and role of men in the menstrual process; and racial, gender and body type inclusivity. Advertising shifts toward messages of inclusivity may positively influence young people's perceptions toward their bodies and menstruation.

Need for Innovation in Public Health Research.

The recent conference Turning the Tide: A New Generation of Public Health Interventions highlighted the need to utilize innovative and emergent methodologies to confront increasingly complex public health challenges. In this commentary, we discuss three dominant themes from the conference: addressing multiple levels of causality in reducing health problems; technology-based methodologies to enhance health promotion; and improving translation and sustainment of effective health promotion programs. The subsequent articles, included in this supplement issue of AJPH, provide compelling examples and arguments supporting these progressive approaches to public health promotion. We recommend that public health researchers draw inspiration from these examples and embrace interdisciplinary, innovative methods within their future work.

"It always gets pushed aside:" Qualitative perspectives on puberty and menstruation education in U.S.A. schools.

Adolescent girls in the U.S.A. often lack sufficient education on pubertal and menstrual health topics. This educational gap may be growing given the current decline in American elementary and middle schools' delivery of sexual health education. Furthermore, little is known about the actual scope and quality of existing menstruation and puberty education in U.S.A. schools. This paper provides insights into some of the challenges with the delivery of menstruation and puberty education in schools. Qualitative and participatory research methodologies were utilized with Black and Latina girls ages 15-19 and adults working with youth in three U.S.A. cities (Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City), exploring experiences of menstruation within school and family contexts. Findings revealed tension between school responsibility and family authority in providing menstruation and puberty education in schools, school- and teacher-related delivery challenges, and inadequate and disengaging menstruation and puberty content. Further research is needed on the effectiveness and best practices for providing this education in schools, including improved understanding on student and parent preferences, delivery mediums and the scope of content.