Millions worldwide experience unique cultural challenges and stigmas. Learn how different cultures fight period poverty & global efforts to break the cycle.
What is period poverty, what does it look like in different parts of the world?
Period poverty is a global issue affecting millions of women, girls, and people who menstruate. The ability to access menstrual products, have safe and hygienic spaces to use them, and manage menstruation free from stigma and shame are basic human rights. Yet for many, these rights remain out of reach. This isn’t just a matter of health; the inability to manage menstruation properly can disrupt education, affect emotional and physical well-being, and limit opportunities for a better life.
The impact of period poverty is felt worldwide, across both developing and developed nations. Millions of individuals, particularly those from marginalized and low-income communities, are forced to make difficult choices. For many, it’s a question of whether to spend limited resources on food or on menstrual products. In both richer and poorer countries, people who menstruate often lack access to the facilities and products they need to manage their periods with dignity. The World Bank estimates that at least 500 million women and girls globally do not have the facilities required for safe menstrual management.¹ In addition, more than 1.25 billion women and girls lack access to a safe, private toilet, while 526 million do not have a toilet at all.²
The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened this issue. Lockdowns and restrictions have severely limited access to essential menstrual hygiene support in many parts of the world, especially in countries where support was already minimal.³ Border closures and supply chain disruptions have also restricted access to menstrual products or caused prices to skyrocket, leaving even more people without the resources they need to manage their periods safely.
Period poverty has far-reaching consequences. Not only does it threaten the health of women, girls, and people who menstruate, but it also affects their education, safety, and overall well-being. The denial of access to menstrual products, clean water, and proper sanitation facilities forces many to rely on makeshift solutions, which can be harmful to their health.
Period Poverty in the Global South
In developing countries, where access to menstrual products is often scarce, many individuals are forced to use makeshift items like rags, grass, and even paper to manage their periods. These methods are not only inadequate but can also pose significant health risks. In some regions, it’s estimated that half of all women and girls are sometimes forced to rely on such unsafe materials.⁴ These risks are particularly high for those who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), which is prevalent in many African countries. Using unsanitary materials during menstruation can lead to infections and other serious health problems.
Education is also greatly affected by period poverty. In countries such as Kenya and Uganda, girls are often forced to miss school during their periods due to a lack of access to menstrual products and private, safe spaces to manage their periods. Many girls drop out of school altogether because of the shame and challenges associated with menstruation. This has long-term implications for their education and future opportunities. A report by UNESCO estimates that in Sub-Saharan Africa, one in 10 girls misses school during their period, amounting to as much as 20% of the school year.⁵
In Kenya, approximately 65% of women and girls cannot afford basic menstrual products like sanitary pads.⁶ The situation is made worse by the fact that only 32% of rural schools in the country have access to safe and private toilets where girls can manage their periods with dignity.⁷ As a result, millions of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa face significant barriers to education simply because they menstruate.
Cultural Practices and Health Impacts
Cultural attitudes toward menstruation can also have a devastating impact on the health and well-being of women and girls. In Nepal, for example, the ancient practice of chhaupadi still exists in some rural communities. Chhaupadi involves banishing women and girls to huts or sheds during their periods, as it is believed they will bring bad luck or illness to their families if they remain at home. Girls often spend days in isolation with little to no access to menstrual products or hygiene facilities, which puts them at increased risk of infections and other health issues. The physical and psychological toll of such practices can be immense.⁸
Sexual exploitation is another harsh reality of period poverty. In parts of rural Kenya, where 63% of the population lives on less than one dollar a day, some women and girls are forced to engage in transactional sex to obtain sanitary pads. A study revealed that while the prevalence of this was relatively low (1.3%), around 10% of 15-year-olds reported being subjected to such exploitation. Disturbingly, girls under 15 were found to be more likely to experience this kind of exploitation compared to their older counterparts.⁹
Period Poverty in Wealthier Countries
Although period poverty is often thought of as a problem that primarily affects developing nations, it is also prevalent in wealthier countries. In the UK, for example, more than 137,700 girls missed school last year because they could not afford sanitary products.¹⁰ Many parents are so desperate to provide their daughters with menstrual products that they resort to stealing or forgoing other essentials. In fact, 6% of parents in the UK admitted to stealing to meet their daughters’ needs, while more than a fifth said they had gone without something themselves to ensure their daughters had menstrual products.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated period poverty in the UK as well. A recent survey conducted by Plan International UK found that more than a third of girls aged 14 to 21 struggled to afford or access menstrual products during the pandemic—a significant increase from the previous year.¹¹ This represents over one million girls, many of whom were forced to use alternatives like toilet paper because they could not afford proper period products. These findings highlight that even in wealthy nations, too many girls are denied the basic rights they need to thrive.
Period Poverty in the United States and New Zealand
The United States, often regarded as the world’s richest country, also faces significant challenges related to period poverty. A 2019 study conducted in Missouri found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of women could not afford menstrual products during the previous year.¹² Many resorted to using cloth, rags, tissues, or even children’s diapers to manage their periods. Nearly half of the women surveyed (46%) said they had to choose between buying food and purchasing menstrual products at some point during the past year. This stark reality underscores that period poverty is not just a problem of the Global South; it affects people in all corners of the world.
In New Zealand, the situation is similarly concerning. A 2020 survey revealed that more than 90,000 school-age girls stay home from school because they cannot afford menstrual products—roughly one in 12 students.¹³ Of those surveyed, 12% of students in year 9 to 13 said they struggled to access the products they needed to manage their periods.
Conclusion
Period poverty is a critical issue that affects people in every corner of the world, from the poorest communities in Sub-Saharan Africa to the wealthiest countries like the UK and the US. The consequences of this form of poverty are wide-reaching, affecting health, education, and future opportunities. To ensure that all who menstruate can live with dignity, it is essential to continue raising awareness and supporting initiatives that address period poverty on a global scale.
Author:
Leisha Toory is the founder of the Human Rights Award-nominated Period Priority Project, a current volunteer of Help A Girl Out (HAGO), a consultant with the United Nations Institute for Social Development and United Nations Institute for Training and Research, an Amnesty Canada Gender Rights Specialized Team member, and holds a BA in Political Science from Memorial University.
Footnotes
1 https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/05/25/menstrual-hygiene-management
2 https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/multimedia/2019/10/infographic-periods
3 https://www.plan.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PIAP-One-Year-On.pdf
4 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/penny-mordaunt-launches-new-funds-to-tackle-period-poverty-globally
5 https://blogs.worldbank.org/education/globally-periods-are-causing-girls-be-absent-school
6 https://menstrualhygieneday.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/FSG-Menstrual-Health-Landscape_Kenya.pdf
7 https://menstrualhygieneday.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/FSG-Menstrual-Health-Landscape_Kenya.pdf
8 https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Water/ContributionsStigma/others/field_bulletin_-_issue1_april_2011_-_chaupadi_in_far-west.pdf
9 https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2014.5031
10 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/international-women-s-day-period-girls-missed-school-uk-sanitary-products-menstruation-a8244396.html
11 https://plan-uk.org/media-centre/over-one-million-girls-in-the-uk-struggled-to-afford-or-access-period-products-during-the-pandemic
12 https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2019/02000/Unmet_Menstrual_Hygiene_Needs_Among_Low_Income.2.aspx
13 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/03/new-zealand-tackles-period-poverty-with-free-sanitary-products-for-all-schoolgirls
