COVID19 Has Negatively Impacted Period Poverty

There has been a lot of focus on how COVID 19 has created a food crisis for people in need; but almost no coverage of how the pandemic has negatively impacted other social issues, including Period Poverty. 

A study commissioned by Thinx and PERiOD, and conducted by SKDK between April 26 and May 2, 2021 demonstrates that COVID has exacerbated menstrual hygiene access, leaving a large sector of the population confronting a public health issue with profound consequences. 

This study, conducted among 1,010 students between the ages of 13 to 19, indicates that “Period Poverty – the inability to access menstrual hygiene products – has jumped to nearly a quarter of all students (up from 1 in 5 in 2019) and lower-income and students of color have been particularly affected.”

Lack of access to period products for students remains a significant issue. “Almost half of Black and Latinx students feel they are not able to do their best schoolwork because of lack of access to period products, compared to 28% among white students.” 

Hidden Consequences 

According to student responses, “Being in school and experiencing stigma can draw up feelings of embarrassment and make them uncomfortable being in school – in many cases, it has a direct impact on their ability to confidently complete schoolwork.”  In fact, 65% of students responding do not want to be in school when they have their periods, thereby impacting students’ ability to learn month after month and year after year. 

Data shows that “Two-thirds of students agree that too many people have to miss out on valuable school time because they do not have the period products then need.”

Click here to read the full report.