Written by: Erinne Goudot
“Menstrual blood is the only source of blood that is not traumatically induced.
Yet in modern society, this is the most hidden blood, the one so rarely spoken of
and almost never seen, except privately by women”, wrote American poet Judy
Grahn. A quote that seems to illustrate perfectly the taboo which surrounds
menstruation and that, therefore, leads one particular public health issue to be
critically underaddressed: period poverty.
Indeed, though access to proper supplies might seem like a fundamental right
for all menstruating women and girls, data shows that this issue does seriously
affect young girls, particularly those from low-income families or marginalised
communities, hindering their education, health, and overall well-being. This
article therefore aims to explain how harmful period poverty can be for teenage
girls as they grow up, and how urgent it is to actually find a way to guarantee
access to sufficient menstrual supplies for everyone menstruating.
What is period poverty?
“Period Poverty” is defined by the American Medical Women’s Association, as
“inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and education, including but not
limited to sanitary products, washing facilities and waste management.”
A first challenge is the deplorable lack of research and data regarding period
poverty, leading this issue to be frequently minimised and forgotten about.
However, even statistics concerning only the United States of America seem
quite alarming, as it is reported that:
16.9 million people who menstruate in the US are living in poverty.
500 million people lack access to menstrual products and hygiene
facilities.
Two-thirds of the 16.9 million low-income women in the US could not
afford menstrual products in the past year, with a half of this needing to
choose between menstrual products and food.
14.2 % of college menstruating people in the US had experienced period
poverty in the past year.
10% of menstruating college students experience this monthly.
Tax on menstrual products in the US ranged from 4.7% to 10% in 2019.
These numbers alone are proof of how serious period poverty really is, and how
much it is needed that more research focuses on it on a global scale. There is,
however, already existing data that shows that the expensive price of menstrual
supplies in some countries, combined with the lack of structures (schools
included) providing free sanitary pads for schoolgirls makes it overly difficult
for teenagers to go through menstruation serenely as they should.
Cost of having a period:
Countries providing free menstrual products for schoolgirls:
It should be pointed out that, though period poverty exists everywhere, it still
affects disproportionately those who live in poorer countries or areas, putting
girls, their wellbeing and their future at risk, just because of their family’s social
condition. In Kenya alone for example, approximately 50% of school-age girls
do not have access to menstrual products, causing them to miss school days
during their period.
The consequences of period poverty:
The lack of access to menstrual supplies or education about menstruation comes
with various consequences making girls vulnerable and threatening their health
and happiness. The major ones are the ones listed below:
-->Education:
The inability for a girl to access proper supplies at the time she is menstruating
can be significatively disruptive of her education, possibly depriving her of
potential future opportunities. Indeed, it can lead to school absenteeism, as
teenagers may feel compelled to stay home during menstruation to avoid
embarrassment or discomfort. This disruption in education can impede
academic progress and exacerbate existing inequalities. One in 10 girls in Africa
miss school because they don’t have access to menstrual products, or because
there aren’t safe, private toilets to use at school. In Sub-Saharan Africa, some
girls will miss as much as 20% of their school year, resulting in a higher risk for
them to be forces into child marriage. In India, 40% of the girls surveyed do not
go to school when they have their period (source: JFamily community Med
report, 2018).
-->Psychological impact and social stigma:
Teenagers facing period poverty may experience feelings of shame,
embarrassment, and low self-esteem due to their inability to manage their
menstruation adequately. This can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety
and depression. In addition to that, stigmatisation surrounding menstruation can
further isolate teenagers experiencing period poverty. A survey conducted by
Plan International UK found that nearly half of girls in the United Kingdom felt
embarrassed by their periods, with 71% admitting to hiding their sanitary
products at school due to shame or stigma.
Across the world, over 500 million girls and women have no access to sanitary
protection at all. Cultural taboos and societal norms may prevent them from
seeking help or discussing their menstrual health concerns openly.openly. In some countries, they are therefore forced to use tea towels, sheets, newspaper, pieces of mattresses or even mud. Hygienic and infection risks are considerable
(source: Unicef and WHO 2015).
-->Health risks:
Inadequate menstrual hygiene management due to the inability to afford
sanitary products can lead to health risks such as urinary tract infections,
reproductive tract infections, and skin irritation, caused by the use of
inappropriate supplies as the ones mentioned above. Lack of access to clean
water and sanitation facilities exacerbates these risks. Economic barriers
associated with period poverty may discourage individuals from seeking timely
medical care for menstrual health issues or related complications. Delayed
treatment can exacerbate existing health conditions and lead to more severe
complications over time.
In Kenya, girls have even engaged in transactional sex with older men to be
able to obtain the items they need. Many of them were unaware of the high risk
of getting a sexually transmitted disease they were put at.
Menstrual health: what can be done?
According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme 2012, menstrual
hygiene management is defined as:
“Women and adolescent girls are using a clean menstrual management material
to absorb or collect menstrual blood, that can be changed in privacy as often as
necessary, using soap and water for washing the body as required, and having
access to safe and convenient facilities to dispose of used menstrual
management materials. They understand the basic facts linked to the menstrual
cycle and how to manage it with dignity and without discomfort or fear.”
The Global Menstrual Collective made proposals that aim to guide institutions
that are willing to act in reducing period poverty:
1. Start and support initiatives that promote access to menstruation products
and information about menstruation, changes, and hygiene practices.
2. Providing facilities that enable menstruating people to care for
themselves during menstruation ensures access to water, sanitation, and
waste services.
3. Accord women and girls the opportunity to receive a diagnosis for
menstrual cycle disorders and access health care.
4. Ensure a positive and supportive environment that allows menstruating
people to participate in all aspects of life, going to school and work, sport.
5. Invite people engaged in addressing period poverty to give talks and
normalise menstruation.
6. Employ zero tolerance to dirty jokes about menstruation.
Those steps are all crucial in order to permit young girls (as well as every
person who menstruates) to navigate safely through their period, and not endure
stigmatisation and health issues because of it. It is as well primordial that
menstruation does not refrain young girls from attending school normally;
period, being a natural part of every girl’s life, should not deprive them from
what’s most important for their future: education.
UNICEF therefore commits to building programmes for adolescent girls,
women, transgender and non-binary individuals to manage their menstruation
safely and with dignity, aiming for them to overcome obstacles to their health,
freedom and development.
Sources:
Plan International UK, et al. « Let’s Talk. Period ». Plan International UK, 31
octobre 2018.
Managing Menstruation with Dignity | UNICEF South Asia.
« Menstrual Health and Hygiene ». World Bank.
Period Poverty | ActionAid UK.
« Why Periods? » Days for Girls International.
