New research has found that more than one in five 22 per cent of schoolgirls struggle to access basic period protection.
A study that looked at 2,500 parents of girls who menstruate, aged eight to 18, found period poverty is the reality for many, who can't always provide for their children during their time of the month.
As many as 34 per cent say their daughter has left for school without the necessary supplies, while 14 per cent have taken the day off to avoid any embarrassment. It was revealed that children between the ages of 12 and 18 missed 108 hours of schooling because of this.
Of those who do make it to school, 19 per cent rely on there being free items such as towels, pads, and tampons available. But 29 per cent said their child’s school is often without period protection.
In addition to towels, pads, and tampons, 21 per cent say they sometimes can’t afford to buy toilet roll at home and 44 per cent said their daughters have often reported a lack of loo paper at school.
The research was carried out by global hygiene and health company Essity, which is working alongside Tesco and charity In Kind Direct on its hygiene poverty campaign, which will see essential hygiene products, including Bodyform period pads, donated to charities throughout the UK.
