Desire for Period Products: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Food Pantry Users in Three Midwestern States

To examine the desire for period products among food pantry users in the U.S.

Cross-sectional study of 4,929 food pantry users at food pantries in Missouri, Kansas, and southwestern Illinois. Data were collected through interviewer and self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between independent variables and the desire for period products to be supplied at food pantries.

Over half (51.9%) of the respondents were between 18 to 44 years. The odds of wanting period products at food pantries were two times higher for those 18 to 44 years (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.868-2.663) than for those 45 years and older. African Americans (AOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.107-1.681), and households with low (AOR 1.2, 95% CI 1.015-1.497) food security were more likely than Whites and those with marginal food security to desire period products.

Food pantry clients desire period products as a basic need. Taking advantage of existing food pantry infrastructure could help address this need.