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

• Published in: The Journal of school nursing 2024-06, Vol.40 (3), p.329-335
• Main Authors: Sebert Kuhlmann, Anne, Teni, Mintesnot T., Key, Rhonda, Billingsley, Cryslynn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1059-8405; 1546-8364
• DOI: 10.1177/10598405211069601

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.