The Impact Of Poverty On Women’S Health

"She had no sanitary pads. No one knew and no one helped,” is the title of the article that caught my immediate attention on CNN’s website. The article talked about a young mother, Rachel Krengel, living in London, England, who struggled to purchase enough sanitary products to last her the month. She would use the same sanitary product for up to 20 hours, and would frequently “free bleed” for at least 2-3 days of the week. What was most shocking; however, is that she never mentioned her problem to anyone. Even her partner at home was completely unaware. She has a fairly strong support system, with family providing financial assistance whenever it was needed; however, she never once asked them to help her pay for hygiene products.

The article goes on to discuss other affected women in England who, out of desperation, are using unsanitary substitutes such as dirty clothes, old rags and newspapers. Some school girls in Leeds, England, were even missing school once a week every month because they could not afford to purchase menstrual products. This article was quite disheartening. Being a woman myself, I would never have thought that access to such a basic yet necessary item, feminine hygiene products, could be so difficult for some women. This article clearly highlights how poverty can adversely affect women’s health. Lack of access are leading to unsanitary practices, such as using dirty cloths, which can lead to significant health risks such as incontinence. These products are a necessity, and women are continuing to pay taxes on these items. Public health professionals should be considering poverty when tackling women’s health, and should work towards providing equitable access to affordable menstrual products. We should even be working towards increasing access to free products for women in need. Currently where I am from, to get free feminine hygiene products, females have to go to a women’s health clinic, or a youth clinic which may be inaccessible due to excessive wait times, distance, and limited hours of operation. Schools should also provide free products for their students. It was upsetting to read that girls had to miss school on a monthly basis because they could not afford hygiene products. Additionally, schools should also be incorporating better education on mensuration and periods, into the curriculum.

We need to increase shame-free conversations about women’s health at a young age, so women like Rachel won’t feel stigmatized or embarrassed to talk about their issues. Another pressing issue here is poverty. To see this happening in a developed country, should be a cause of concern. The article mentions a startling increase in poverty in England, which is a major determinant of health for all, not just women. A long-term solution would be working to address this problem of poverty, to provide women, and all people with the conditions and resources they need to be healthy. Poverty compounded with the stigma that surrounds menstruation makes this issue a complex one. I empathize with these women, and as an aspiring public health professional, I aim to consider these important social determinants of health when aiming to improve population health.