What is Period Poverty?
admin This refers to the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, and adequate facilities necessary for managing menstruation safely and hygienically.
It primarily affects low-income individuals and girls in underprivileged communities, leading to significant social, economic, and health consequences. Many girls in rural areas or impoverished urban settings cannot afford sanitary pads, forcing them to use unhygienic alternatives like ragged cloths, paper or soil, which increase the risk of infections. Additionally, the absence of proper sanitation facilities in schools and public spaces often causes girls to miss school during their periods, resulting in educational setbacks and perpetuating cycles of poverty. The stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation further exacerbate the problem, as open discussions about menstruation are often discouraged, leaving many unaware of proper hygiene practices.
Addressing period poverty requires comprehensive solutions such as making sanitary products affordable or free, improving sanitation infrastructure, and promoting menstrual health education to break down societal taboos and empower individuals to manage their menstruation with dignity and safety.
How period poverty has affected women and girls
Reasons why period poverty has persisted
How to address period poverty at households, institutions, work places and community levels
