COVID-19 & Period Poverty: A Deeper Look by Miriam Admasu, Communications Intern
COVID-19 has impacted almost every realm of society. According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook projections and data from World Bank’s PovcalNet, “Covid-19 is likely to cause the first increase in global poverty since 1998.” One of said implications of the pandemic would be the impact on accessibility of menstrual products for women and girls around the world. The new lifestyle and conditions brought by the pandemic has led to strains on people all over, which in turn has put more individuals into “period poverty.” Period poverty is the lack of access to feminine hygiene resources and education. This can encompass sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management. In this particular case, the financial hardships brought by the pandemic has led to women and girls prioritizing other necessities, such as food, over their health. People are unable to afford such resources due to their rise in price as well as economic situations being affected by the pandemic. Additionally, the pandemic has affected production in many regions, meaning menstrual hygiene products are even harder to access than normal. The pandemic has also impacted the lifestyles of many around the world. Lockdown policies put in place have also affected store openings and public transportation, which are other obstacles.
Another large effect of the pandemic is the virus itself. Many public spaces are closed or unsafe to be exposed to, and regions where washing facilities are shared spaces are gravely affected because the ability to social distance and the cleanliness in these facilities cannot be assured to be safe for individuals.
These various implications of the pandemic have led to individuals resorting to risky alternatives for sanitary products, like newspapers, old socks or cloths. These alternatives pose a risk to the health of women and girls, and can be a gateway to getting infections and possibly other diseases. For many women, this is something that can’t be afforded. Another grave consequence of the pandemic is the decrease in sexual and reproductive health education. Sexual and reproductive health education is already an issue in regards to limited information dispersal, and now COVID has restricted how people can interact. Because of this there will need to be different means to help keep people informed about any information or answer any questions they may have. Cultural stigmas and traditional beliefs can also impact women and young girls in terms of sanitation and how communities treat those who are menstruating.
There are a multitude of organizations who are trying to alleviate the implications of the pandemic, from smaller regional groups like Sisters for Sisters’ Education in Nepal, to organizations working on a larger, global scale such as UNICEF and UNFPA. Some ways groups are taking action are by building or financially supporting feminine hygiene kits and promoting correct information to dismiss rumors associated with the pandemic and menstrual health. These efforts are greatly appreciated because access to sanitary products are essential and should be available to everyone at all times.
The shift brought by COVID-19 has exposed the many ways in which different countries are lacking in support for their citizens, particularly when it comes to health and well-being. Maybe this rise in period poverty will lead to the realization that feminine hygiene resources are a necessity and in turn motivate policies that will protect the rights of women and girls to have equal access to such resources.
References:
https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/covid-19-periods-in-pandemic-9-things-to-know
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/nepal-period-poverty-covid-19/