What is Menstrual Poverty?

to menstrual poverty It is a term that refers has lack of adequate access to menstrual hygiene products, such as higi thoughtsIt isnicos, tampHees or glasses/disks menstrual, devido and listsçõfinancial.

This conditionherealso consider itIt ism a lack of access a ongua, healing bonphysical and social inequality. to menstrual poverty affects mainly women and girls whoão tehm enough resources to purchase products menstrual monthly, circumstância that provokes consequenceehnces finphysical, emotional and social.

‘’It is estimated that, worldwide, at least 500 millionHees of women live in menstrual poverty andãare able to access conditionsçõadequate hygiene measures.’’ (TSF)

It is It is a topic that has been gaining considerationhereor in debatesinticos, manifestsções between activist influencers and health professionalsuof To amountâThe need to look at this reality and do something ison more and more ‘’screaming’’.

Let us goonwell yes menstrual dignity (see blog article) menstrual poverty has vonrias incidenceehnces in the lives of many women:

• Impact on sauof: a lack of access to adequate menstrual products can lead to health problemsuOf how infections urineonrias It is vaginal infections, due to has improvisehereor with unsuitable materials. AlIt ism of these questsHeis finsic, O stress and related anxiety with lack of condiçõIt is menstrual products in the life of a woman/girl, significantly affect emotional well-being.
• Fouls in It isschool and tass: many mgirls facing menstrual poverty lackm has school during you seats forinskin, harming a your educationhereo and future opportunities. A lack of adequate menstrual products, you can take the mulheres missing the work (normally by itself jon preconrio).
• Stigma and constrangimento: a lack of menstrual products can cause shame and embarrassment, which can lead has excludedãthe social and has decreasesherethe da self-esteem, impacting negatively affect emotional development and self-confidenceWhata.
• Costs to lhear preason: aOver time, costs continueinnaked with menstrual products canm be substantial, making women's lives difficult with limited financial resources, leading has desistehinformation about your purchase and has usesherethat of inadequate improvised resources.
• Inequality of gIt isblack: a menstrual poverty It is a manifestationherethat of inequality of gIt isblack, as it affects only female. Lack of access to menstrual products It is an example of how questsHeIt is gIt isblack and the disparity econfrommica Eastãor interconnected.

To board and fight menstrual povertyãthe needonrias vonrious measures, of which the following can be highlighted:

• Programs of ddistributedhereO grattle or ssubsidized of pproducts menstruais: (algumas organizesções and governments jon implemented programs to distribute menstrual products for free or in advanceWhatthose reduced for women and girls in situationsherethat of poverty.) Follow the exampleon all differWhata.
• EducahereO menstrual: It is important promote the same between aces women and girls, so that they understand O your menstrual cycle, which necessary hygiene careonrios e as opçõis menstrual collection availableinyou see.
• Support has sauof feminine: Othinkções and communities must offer support already onumenstrual period, including treatmentIt issaying for health problemsuof intima.
• Support psicolfromlogical and It isemotional: o stress emotional and you embarrassments related as in monthlyhereO must be considered, as well as the your due psychological supportfromlogical and emotional, sfrom so you canon help improve mental well-being related with O cycle menstrual.
• c campaignsonscientizeshereO: promover a conscientizehereO about menstrual poverty It is fundamental! It is achieved throughIt iss of campaigns, petitionçõit's for movingWhatthose of polinethics, involvement of schools and health entitiesuof, counting on interest and publicizeshereO dthe mediahereO.
• Incentive has pgenushereO of pproducts they standonyou see: iencourage and support and prodherethe place for menstrual products they standonyou see - how do you keep hygieneIt isunique reusedonvelvets or menstrual cups/discs - can help create jobs and make products more affordableinyou see.
• Polinethics puwar: It is important that the polinpuwar we consider to menstrual poverty, in a way include menstrual products in assistance programsehsocial ance, implement educational programsheremenstruation in schools and remover you taxes on these products.

to menstrual poverty It is a questãthe global and complex that requires effortWhatgovernment coordinates, organizesçõnon-profits, communities and individualsinduos to ensure that all women and girls have adequate access to menstrual products and can live with dignity during their cycles.

Although to menstrual poverty have a greater incidenceehncia is prevailingehncia in wellinhis with worse conditionsçõis socioeconomic and with less access to health resourcesuof and educateshereO, It is It is a problem that affects women and girls a little for everyone, regardless of countryins or regionãwhat they live in. A Lack of access to menstrual hygiene products can occur anywhere and to large extents.ãThe problem can vary widely even within a country.ins.

‘’In a 2020 study on perceptionherethat of 445 Portuguese women about menstruationhereo and menstrual hygiene, presented at the University of Minho, almost 17% said they had difficulty purchasing products such as sanitary padsIt isnicos, tampHees or the menstrual cup.’’ (in https://observador.pt/opiniao/pobreza-menstrual-uma-questao-de-dignidade/)

To address period poverty jon they exist inonrias organizações, governments and initiatives a it worksr a ninglobal, national and local level to provide affordable menstrual productsinsee and educateherethe menstrual, progressively achieving combat the stigmas associated has monthlyhereO.

Sfrom it worksyes together we can confront istand challenge and beon possinvel improve healthuand the well-being of women and girls around the world.

At Flow we have every interest, desire and availability to help change this paradigm.

We want to bring the informationhereor over educateheremenstruation everywhere, so if belong to an associationherethe company or school and would like it to be promotedonlet's have a sessionão, get in touch with us.

A Flow It is a brand of hygiene products inintimate, an educational brand and we want to help transform the way we act in the world!
Are you coming with us?

https://ohyourflow.com

Margaret L.

Sources:

https://observador.pt/opiniao/pobreza-menstrual-uma-questao-de-dignidade/

https://www.tsf.pt/programa/verdes-habitos/menstruacao-sustentavel-do-combate-a-pobreza-menstrual-aos-pensos-e-cuecas-reutilizaveis-16434793.html

https://www.publico.pt/2022/05/25/p3/cronica/palavrao-comecado-p-pobreza-menstrual-2007668

image taken from: oglobo.com