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Period poverty and mental health implications among college-aged women in the United States.


ABSTRACT:

Background

The purpose of this study is to examine the frequency of "period poverty," or not being able to afford sanitary products, among university students, and associations with poor mental health.

Methods

An online survey was conducted with a nationally-drawn sample (N?=?471) of college-attending women to assess the association between period poverty and depression. Period poverty was measured via two questions designed for this study; depression was measured with the standard PHQ-9. Multivariable logistic regression was utilized for analysis.

Results

Among our sample, 14.2% of women had experienced period poverty ever in the past-year; an additional 10% experienced it every month. Compared to those who had never experienced period poverty, adjusted analysis revealed that women with monthly past-year period poverty were the most likely to report moderate/severe depression (AOR?=?2.34, 95% CI 1.09-4.99), followed by those who had experienced it ever in the past year (AOR?=?1.83, 95% CI, 0.99-3.38).

Conclusion

Many young women cannot afford menstrual health products to meet their monthly needs, and this may impact their mental well-being. Improved access to affordable menstrual products is needed to support these young women.

SUBMITTER: Cardoso LF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7788986 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Period poverty and mental health implications among college-aged women in the United States.

Cardoso Lauren F LF   Scolese Anna M AM   Hamidaddin Alzahra A   Gupta Jhumka J  

BMC women's health 20210106 1


<h4>Background</h4>The purpose of this study is to examine the frequency of "period poverty," or not being able to afford sanitary products, among university students, and associations with poor mental health.<h4>Methods</h4>An online survey was conducted with a nationally-drawn sample (N = 471) of college-attending women to assess the association between period poverty and depression. Period poverty was measured via two questions designed for this study; depression was measured with the standar  ...[more]

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