Our Terms & Conditions | Our Privacy Policy
BYLINE: Myra Wright
Innovative clinical-community program highlights menstrual poverty in adolescents with 10% of screened patients reporting needing period products
Newswise — A new study published in the June 2025 issue of Pediatrics reveals the successful implementation of a clinical-community program designed to address menstrual poverty among adolescents and young adults.
Menstrual poverty, or period poverty, refers to the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and the education to effectively use them.
“Menstrual poverty is a significant problem affecting many adolescents and young adults. By implementing screening processes and providing free products along with education on their effective use, we can tackle this pressing problem within the clinical setting and connect patients to additional resources,” said Callie Brown, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and senior author of the study.”
Researchers introduced a screening tool at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s Downtown Health Plaza Pediatric Clinic, an academic primary care clinic located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The tool was administered to 110 patients aged 12 years and older during well visits in April 2022 through July 2022 and identified those experiencing menstrual poverty through questions about access to menstrual products, school attendance and stress related to menstruation.
The study’s key findings:
- 10% of the screened patients reported needing period products
- 7.1% missed school due to lack of supplies
- 10% felt stressed about their periods due to lack of access to period products.
The program partnered with the Triad North Carolina chapter of The Period Project to supply menstrual hygiene products to patients who screened positive for menstrual poverty. This collaboration ensured that patients received necessary supplies without any cost to the clinic or the patients.
According to Brown, the study demonstrates that addressing menstrual poverty through clinical-community partnerships is not only feasible but also essential for improving the well-being of adolescents.
Brown also said the findings underscore the critical need for similar programs across the country.
“This program has enabled us to start essential conversations about menstruation and offer vital support to our patients,” Brown said.
To interview Brown, contact Myra Wright at [email protected].
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
Aggregated From –
Comments are closed.