“月经贫困”：被忽视的女性困境 | Nature

We should not only pay attention to period poverty during specific events or seasons. Period poverty requires continuous attention, as it affects individuals every day. Addressing this issue demands consistent effort and awareness to ensure that everyone has access to the necessary resources and support, regardless of the time of year.

Period poverty is defined as the lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management and education, and it affects millions of people globally and causes physical, mental and emotional challenges. Period poverty is a multifaceted problem and a neglected public health issue. It is also a socioeconomic issue and, above all, a human rights issue.

Currently, menstruation is treated primarily as a women's issue, with insufficient attention and prioritization. According to UNICEF, at least 500 million women and girls globally lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management. The stigma surrounding menstruation further prevents open discussion and awareness, which exacerbates the problem. This lack of attention and prioritization must change.

Addressing period poverty effectively demands inclusive and continuous engagement from all sectors of society. Activists and non-profit organizations worldwide are addressing period poverty as a human rights and social justice issue by raising awareness, providing sanitary products and advocating for policy changes. However, tackling this global problem requires everyone’s involvement. Researchers, policymakers, governments and civil society — including men — must join the conversation. A holistic approach is necessary, while ensuring that women, girls and all who menstruate are part of the decision-making process. Language matters — it is not just women and girls who menstruate, and inclusivity in interventions is essential.

Menstruation affects more than half of the world’s population but remains shrouded in stigma, which prevents open discussions and solutions. The lack of comprehensive data and limited research on period poverty further complicate the issue, which underscores the urgent need for more research and engagement. Period poverty, as with other forms of poverty, can be debilitating and takes various forms, and affects emotional, physical and mental health.

Addressing period poverty is not just about providing menstrual products. It involves creating an environment in which menstruation is openly discussed and normalized, ensuring access to proper hygiene facilities and waste management, and investing in education to dispel myths and break the stigma. Governments, organizations and individuals must work together to ensure that menstruation is treated as a human rights issue, and not just a women’s issue.

The World Health Organization has emphasized that menstrual health is a human rights and health issue, and not merely a sanitation issue. In many countries, however, menstruation has been narrowly focused on sanitation. For instance, in South Africa, the Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework, approved by the South African Cabinet in 2017, aims to ensure safe and dignified menstrual management for indigent girls and women by providing free sanitary products and supporting uninterrupted education. Despite its benefits, the framework faces challenges such as inconsistent product distribution, a lack of menstrual health education and inadequate school sanitation facilities. Improvements are needed in these areas to fully achieve its goals.

Funding is a major challenge for nonprofit organizations to continue their work on period poverty. Nongovernmental organizations have a crucial role in debunking stigmas, raising awareness about menstruation and providing sanitary materials. Therefore, it is vital that funding streams are prioritized for menstrual health-related initiatives. Menstruation must be integrated into sexual and reproductive health rights interventions.

It also matters who manufactures menstrual materials. Girls, women and people who menstruate should be prioritized in tenders, and their businesses should be supported when they start manufacturing menstrual materials. This will advance their participation in the economy and ensure that menstrual products are tailored to the needs of the community, understanding the multifaceted challenges of menstruation.

The environmental impact of menstrual products is also linked to period poverty. Traditional products contribute to plastic waste and can be costly. Reusable and sustainable products, such as menstrual cups and reusable period underwear, reduce both the environmental impact and long-term costs. By making period products more sustainable, we can alleviate some financial burdens of period poverty while also addressing ecological concerns. It is time to recognize that menstruation requires collective action.

Many factors exacerbate period poverty, including unemployment and socioeconomic issues. In some cases, people who menstruate may prioritize buying food over menstrual materials, which highlights the role of poverty in exacerbating period poverty. Women, in general, are an underserved group; when they do not have jobs or are unempowered, they lack the autonomy to manage their reproductive rights and choices, including which menstrual materials to use.

Menstruation affects everyone, and addressing period poverty should be a global priority. The physical, mental and emotional challenges caused by period poverty cannot be ignored. Comprehensive data and research, open discussions and environmentally friendly solutions are crucial steps towards addressing this global challenge. Let us make period poverty everybody’s business and work towards a world in which no one is held back by their menstrual cycle. ■