Period Poverty: The Public Health Crisis We Don’t Talk About
According to a 2014 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report, 1 out of every 10 menstruating youth misses school during their menstrual cycle due to lack of access to menstrual products and resources. For example, menstruators in developing parts of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa, are prone to using paper, old clothes, leaves, cotton, or wool pieces rather than more traditional menstrual products like disposable pads or tampons. Many schools in developing nations have insufficient toilets and inadequate privacy measures, as well as poor water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, making it difficult for students to safely manage their menstrual cycle.
Grace Clarke, an assistant researcher at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and master’s of public health student at La Salle University, grew up in Monrovia, Liberia and shares her experiences with this issue:
I personally had instances when the only means to manage my menstrual cycle was to use old clothes or tissue because my family couldn’t afford to purchase menstrual products. As I gained more knowledge of period poverty in my community, I became more passionate about addressing this issue. In 2019, my younger sister, Lovetta Qualah, and I founded a nonprofit organization called Positive Action Driving Safety for Girls (PADS for Girls). We provide sanitary products to young, disadvantaged youth in rural parts of Liberia. By improving access and education about basic health needs, we are able to help youth at risk of poor health outcomes due to the undermining forces of poverty and stigma.
