Period Poverty in Kenya

Period Poverty means that those affected do not have the financial means to buy and use the period products they desperately need. Menstruators are forced to improvise with toilet paper or old cloth scraps etc. This can lead to serious health problems. “Substitute products” are usually neither pleasant nor hygienic. Menstruators run the risk of developing infections that can lead to serious health problems. Apart from the physical stress, period poverty is often accompanied by psychological stress for those affected: from the shame of talking about periods in general, to the shame of not being able to afford suitable products to make them more comfortable. Not being able to leave the house during the period can lead to isolation and can have a negative impact on school performance. Affected female students miss school days every month, which is often reflected in lower grades. Additionally, only about 32% of schools in Kenya have a suitable place for young women and girls to change sanitary products.