Period Poverty and Its Consequences among Secondary School Students in Perak, Malaysia

Abstract

Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual products. More than a billion women currently lack access to even the most basic supplies during their period, which can be linked to the inconveniences faced by women during their menstruation. The aim of this study was to evaluate period poverty issues among secondary school girls aged 15 to 17 in Ipoh, Malaysia. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among female secondary school students in Ipoh, Perak in order to determine the prevalence of period poverty and its consequences among adolescent girls. The study type was a convenient study, which involved distribution of questionnaires to the secondary school girls. Based on attitude adequacy on menstrual health practices, results showed students had good practices in maintaining menstrual hygiene and only 8.57% had an inadequate level of menstrual practices. Besides, period poverty is not prevalent among secondary school girls in Ipoh, Perak. This was due to that only 16.67% of students experienced period poverty. Moreover, period poverty showed affected the student lifestyle, where the present study showed that 20.95% skipped the attendance in school, 37.62% experienced emotional stress and anxiety and 39.05% did not change their menstrual products due to unclean washing facilities and 54.76% experienced lack of participation in school activity.