Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

03 Jun 2025

UP Diliman

AI can enhance conceptual understanding and boost self-confidence in mathematics

AI is increasingly integrated into educational settings, offering personalized learning experiences that adapt to individual needs. While AI has the...

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28 May 2025

UP Diliman

SPECIAL FEATURE: How did Filipino athletes cope with the Covid-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected social and economic life around the world. To protect public health, many countries enforced lockdowns...

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21 May 2025

UP Diliman

Machine learning holds great promise for advancing hadron physics and deepening our understanding of the subatomic world

We investigated a peak signal around MeV in the invariant mass spectrum, which has intrigued physicists as a potential candidate...

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20 May 2025

UP Diliman

Cigarette demand varies with changes in price

This study looks into how recent tax reforms on cigarettes and fermented liquor in the Philippines have affected people’s consumption...

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08 May 2025

UP Diliman

There is a weak positive correlation between land surface temperature and concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide

This study looks at how land surface temperature (LST) from satellite data, elevation, and air quality parameters are related in...

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07 May 2025

Proper water management and soil sanitation can help prevent crop losses caused by the Paramyrothecium fungus

Paramyrothecium is a fungus that can cause plant diseases like coffee leaf spots, muskmelon crown rot, and eggplant crater rot....

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02 May 2025

Simulations show that rosette nanotube is a potential vehicle for anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel

Anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel (PTX) affect the healthy cells apart from the cancer cells, causing severe side effects. Targeted...

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30 Apr 2025

Leni Robredo’s presidential campaign offered supporters spaces that reflected their hopes by highlighting gender and sexuality issues

This paper examines how Leni Robredo’s presidential campaign during the 2022 Philippines elections used language and visuals to create a...

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30 Apr 2025

Researchers propose a modified inelastic bouncing ball model that includes collision time between the ball and its container

The behavior of granular materials subjected to shaking or vibration remains a complex puzzling phenomenon. A reliable strategy in science...

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25 Apr 2025

A method has been developed to determine the minimum aperture size that a digital micromirror device can accurately render

A digital micromirror device (DMD) is a programmable pixelated instrument that uses an array of tiny individually switchable mirrors as...

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25 Apr 2025

China’s projects aim not only to compete with the US but also to bring about positive change

This research looks at how China is becoming more influential in the world through projects like the Belt and Road...

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24 Apr 2025

Non-democratic states, even if they perform well in sports, receive less media attention than democratic countries

In this study, Panao and Gache delve into the fascinating world of sports and its connection to global politics. Essentially,...

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Research

The study “Exploring the Availability and Accessibility of Menstrual Friendly Public Toilets (MFPTs) in Urban Spaces” examines public toilet facilities in six global cities, including the city of Manila, to determine how well they meet the needs of women who menstruate. The research assessed factors such as accessibility, safety, cleanliness, and the availability of menstrual hygiene products. Key findings reveal that most public toilets lack essential features like menstrual product disposal bins and free menstrual products. Toilets in business and tourist areas were generally more “menstrual friendly” than those in residential neighborhoods. Manila’s public toilets scored relatively well on cleanliness but performed inadequately in providing resources for menstrual hygiene management. The study highlights the need for urban planners and policymakers to prioritize creating accessible, safe, and well-equipped public toilets to support the menstrual health and dignity of users.

This research is significant as it sheds light on a critical yet often overlooked aspect of public health and urban planning—menstrual hygiene management in public spaces. The study introduces the concept of MFPTs, providing a framework for assessing and improving the accessibility, safety, and functionality of public sanitation facilities.

The study offers insights for addressing gender inequality in urban sanitation. It identifies gaps in resources and infrastructure, such as the absence of disposal mechanisms and menstrual products in public toilets, which are crucial for enhancing comfort and dignity for menstruating individuals. By emphasizing the link between menstrual hygiene and public participation, this research can guide policymakers, urban planners, and health advocates in creating more inclusive and equitable urban environments.

Authors:

Angela-Maithy Nguyen (Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University)

Andrew R. Maroko (Institute for Health Equity Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Sarah Blake (Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University)

Elli Sugita (Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University)

Natália Helou Fazzioni (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Philosophy and Social Science Institute, Largo São Francisco de Paula)

Marian Fe Theresa C. Lomboy (College of Public Health, University of the Philippines)

Justine Bukenya (School of Public Health, Makerere University)

Helen V.S. Cole (Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona)

Ernesto R. Gregorio Jr. (College of Public Health, University of the Philippines)

Kim J. Hopper (Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University)

Marni Sommer (Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University)

Read the full paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829225000012?via%3Dihub

Photo: Anna Tarazevich from Pexels