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The pandemic and period Poverty: COVID-19’s bloody mark on the war on women’s bodies

Racheal Hendershot

Abstract

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on women and young girls worldwide by contributing to global period poverty. Quarantine and the closing of schools have worsened access to sanitary products for populations in need, specificaly young school-age girls. Moreover, the emergency transition of sanitary product factories into surgical mask factories during the pandemic has lead to a sanitary product shortage that has added to period poverty in many countires such as the USA and India. Without access to period products, women and young girls face worsening health outcomes and educational opportunities.

Keywords

women's health; poverty; COVID-19; global health

References

Vashisht A, Pathak R, Agarwalla R, Patavegar BN, Panda M. School absenteeism during menstruation amongst adolescent girls in Delhi, India. J Family Community Med. 2018;25(3):163-168. doi:10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_161_17

Gopalan, M. Less than 20% menstruating girls and women in India use pads. Here’s how to overcome barriers. The Print. 10 Nov 2019. [Accessed 14 April 2021]. https://theprint.in/health/less-than-20-per-cent-menstruating-girls-women-in-india-use-pads/317570/

Shekar, R and Singh, U. Women’s sanitary health in India: a tale of social inequality and basic sanitation. The London School of Economics and Political Science. 18 Sept 2020. [Accessed 14 April 2021]. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/socialpolicy/2020/09/18/womens-sanitary-health-in-india-a-tale-of-social-inequality-and-basic-sanitation/

Goldberg, E. Many lack access to pads and tampons. What are lawmakers doing about it? The New York Times. 13 Jan 2021. [Accessed 14 April 2021]. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/tampons-pads-period.html

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