A recent study involving 2,500 parents of girls aged eight to 18 has shed light on the alarming prevalence of period poverty affecting as many as 22% of schoolgirls. 

This issue leaves young girls struggling to access essential period products, posing serious challenges to their education and well-being. 

The research, conducted by global hygiene and health company Essity, found that 34% of parents have seen their daughters leave for school without the necessary supplies, while 14 percent have taken a day off from school to avoid embarrassment.  

This translates to around 4.5 days of missed schooling for each affected child between the ages of 12 and 18.  

Of those who do manage to attend school, 19% rely on the availability of free items like towels, pads, and tampons. However, 29% reported that their child's school often lacks such period protection.   

The study also highlighted related challenges beyond period products. 22% of parents mentioned that they sometimes can't afford to buy toilet paper at home, and 44% noted that their daughters have often reported a lack of toilet paper at school.   

Essity is collaborating with Tesco and charity In Kind Direct on its hygiene poverty campaign. The campaign aims to provide essential hygiene products, including Bodyform period pads, to charities across the UK.   

Gareth Lucy, spokesperson for Essity, emphasised the importance of addressing this issue. 

She said: "While many of us are feeling the pinch at the moment, most are still fortunate enough to afford everyday essential hygiene products. But for many, affording items like period products and toilet paper has become impossible."   

In Kind Direct distribute products, donated by some of the UK's best known manufacturers, retailers and brands, to charitable organisations (image via SWNS).

Rosanne Gray, CEO of In Kind Direct, echoed this sentiment, having stated: 

"We hear heart-breaking stories from our charitable network on a weekly basis about families using rolled-up socks as period pads because they can't afford to buy these items as budgets are so stretched."  

Parents facing financial constraints have sought assistance from family and friends (45%), medical professionals (43%), food banks (43%), and local charities to provide period products for their children.   

Only 73% of parents surveyed reported that they can consistently provide pads and tampons for their children during their periods.  

The issue of period poverty is not limited to a particular region, as the study found that Birmingham, Liverpool, London, and Manchester all faced similar challenges, with 25% of respondents in each city experiencing period poverty.  

However, the study found that 87% of those aware of their child's friends struggling with period poverty provided tampons or pads to help.  

Additionally, 42% reached out to the child's school to raise awareness of the situation.   

Gareth Lucy concluded that it is difficult to understand that in today's day and age, young girls are missing education because of a lack of access to sanitary products.  

She said: "It's unforgivable that in 2023 we have girls missing school and therefore missing out on critical education because they can't access the necessary protection during their period. 

She added: "We've been donating 1.2 million pads per year since 2017, but the problem is getting worse, and more needs to be done."