Period Product Insecurity, School Absenteeism, and use of School Resources to Obtain Period Products among High School Students in St. Louis, Missouri

Abstract

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among female students is a neglected public health issue in the U.S. This study documented period product insecurity, school absenteeism, and use of school resources to obtain period products among high-school students in St. Louis, MO. Female students completed an anonymous, self-administered survey in English (n = 119). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of period product need, resources used to obtain period products, and period-related absenteeism. The mean age of participants was 15.78 ± 1.28. Nearly two-thirds (64.4% (95% CI 55.1%-73.0%)) reported period product insecurity. Two-thirds (66.9% (95% CI 57.7%-75.3%)) reported using at least one of the school's resources to obtain period products. One-third of the participants (33.6% (95% CI 25.0%-43.1%)) reported missing school due to a lack of period products. School nurses need to be cognizant of how MHM affects their students’ attendance at school and what measures they can take to help reduce menstruation-related absenteeism.

Period Product Resources and Needs in Schools: A Statewide Survey of Missouri's School Nurses

“…School nurses also know students who miss school because of their period. This finding corresponds with studies of students' self‐reported attendance at a high school in St. Louis, which found that over 70% of students missed school for any reason related to their period in the previous school year, and nearly 70% missed at least 1 day per month as a result of their periods in the current school year 4,5 . They are also consistent with findings by Cotropia 6 that showed a lack of access to period products at school resulted in students missing school, coming late, leaving early, and negatively affecting their ability to learn.…”

“…Again, these results from school nurses align with self-reported data from students, where nearly 60% in 1 study said they wanted more information and education around managing their periods and about half in a follow-up study reported the same. 4,5 Our findings also align with focus group themes identified by Secor-Turner and colleagues, 11 who found that while students learned about anatomy and physiology in school, they learned little about menstruation management and how to use period products.…”

“…The survey instrument was adapted from questions previously asked of students 4,5 ; studies on student health and menstrual health and hygiene informed survey development 12,15‐17 . The DHSS School Health Program and their advisory Council for Adolescent and School Health reviewed the survey instrument.…”

An Update on State Legislation Supporting Menstrual Hygiene Products in US Schools: A Legislative Review, Policy Report, and Recommendations for School Nurse Leadership

“…Disparities in access to menstrual products are heightened for students from low-income households or students experiencing homelessness (Michel et al, 2022). Consequently, at-risk menstruating students have the added burden of missing school days or leaving school early and can potentially suffer from mental health issues due to a lack of menstrual support and equipment in schools (Cardoso et al, 2021; Cotropia, 2019; Gouvernet et al, 2023; Kuhlmann et al, 2021; Oster & Thornton, 2011).…”

Menstrual Technology Innovations and the Implications for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

“…[7][8][9] In addition to health concerns, heavy menstrual bleeding can be associated with negative social, economic, and environmental consequences. 10,11 A menstruating individual without heavy menstrual bleeding is estimated to use up to 10,000 pads in their lifetime. 12 Many of the new, reusable menstrual products offer alternatives for menstrual containment that reduce environmental waste, but little is known about how well they function for individuals with heavy menstrual bleeding.…”