Period poverty is ‘getting worse’ under lockdown, says charity
Earlier this year, the UK government introduced free sanitary products for all school-aged girls in primary and secondary institutions.
But with coronavirus forcing most children into homeschooling since March , a charity has found that this, coupled with shortages of sanitary products, has led to a rise in period poverty during lockdown.
A recent survey by Plan International found that three in 10 girls in the UK had struggled to afford or access period products during the lockdown. Of those, 54 per cent said they had to use toilet paper as an alternative.
A separate survey by WaterAid found more than half of menstruating women (55 per cent) in the UK had experienced increased challenges managing their periods under lockdown
Rose Caldwell, chief executive of Plan International UK, said issues arising from the pandemic were making it harder for girls and young women to manage their periods ‘safely and with dignity’.
Caldwell continued: “We already know that the coronavirus outbreak is having a devastating impact on family finances all over the world. But now we see that girls and women are also facing widespread shortages and price hikes on period products, with the result that many are being forced to make do with whatever they can find to manage their period.”
WaterAid asked 755 British women how lockdown had affected their ability to manage menstruation. Close to 15 per cent said they had stockpiled sanitary materials at the start of lockdown - this figure rose to 25 per cent in London.
A further 14 per cent said they were worried about going outside while having their periods during lockdown due to the closure of public toilets.
Plan International’s survey of 45 health professionals from 30 countries found that 73 per cent of women were facing restricted access to products through shortages or disrupted supply chains.
Caldwell said: “Period stigma is both a cause and consequence of gender inequality and can have a serious impact on girls’ life chances.
“It’s therefore critical that governments and health agencies prioritise menstrual hygiene management in their response to the coronavirus crisis and treat sanitary products as essential items during the pandemic and beyond.”
In March, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Government’s plans to end the tampon tax and abolish VAT on women’s sanitary products from 2021.
A study from 2019 found that women spend, on average, £5,000 on period products in their lifetime . The study, commissioned by Menstrual cup brand Intimina, found a woman spends £10.24 per month on menstrual products adding up to £4,916 during an average reproductive lifetime – 12 to 52.
Additional reporting by PA.
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