Implementing a Clinical-Community Program to Address Menstrual Poverty: An Advocacy Case Study

Menstrual poverty occurs when inadequate access to menstrual hygiene education or financial hardship creates difficulties in sufficiently accessing menstrual hygiene products, which results in adverse outcomes for emotional well-being, school attendance, and health autonomy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently endorsed a position statement to eliminate menstrual poverty in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). However, few community-clinical collaborations exist in the literature that addresses menstrual poverty. We introduced a novel menstrual poverty screening tool in April 2022 at 1 academic pediatric clinic at all female AYA well visits. We partnered with a local advocacy organization, the Triad of North Carolina chapter of The Period Project, to create packets containing menstrual hygiene supplies. Those with positive screens were given the option of receiving a menstrual supply packet at the time of visit. Narrative feedback was obtained to evaluate for project feasibility and acceptability from AYA participants who screened positive for menstrual poverty and from clinic staff participating in screening or providing menstrual supply packets. Themes included (1) menstrual poverty as a problem in the community, (2) necessity of addressing and normalizing menstrual poverty at every AYA well visit, (3) medical and mental health consequences of menstrual poverty, and (4) suggestions to improve the clinical-community program. We found that a clinical program addressing menstrual poverty through partnership with a community-based advocacy organization was acceptable among patients and providers. Additional research is needed to determine effectiveness of a clinical-community program addressing menstrual poverty.