Mar 24 (Japan Today) - The Japanese health authorities conducted their first survey on women suffering from "period poverty" as the coronavirus pandemic sheds more light on the issue, with its results released Wednesday showing women who struggle to buy menstrual products not only face emotional challenges but a decline in quality of life.
The online survey in early February on 3,000 women between the ages of 18 and 49 also revealed the younger generation, with relatively lower incomes, is significantly impacted by difficulty affording items such as pads and tampons.
The survey found that period poverty causes emotional stress and forces those facing the situation to make sacrifices in their daily lives.
Among women with experiences of having difficulties in buying sanitary products, 50.0 percent said they tried to deal with the issue by changing pads or tampons less frequently, and 43.0 percent used such items as toilet paper as substitutes.
Poor access to menstrual products caused more than 70 percent to experience health problems, such as itching and rashes.
Regarding reasons for not being able to afford sanitary products, 37.7 percent cited low income, while 28.7 percent said they simply did not have enough money to spend on themselves.
Other respondents said they were embarrassed or reluctant to ask for help from such public facilities.
