Homeless Individuals’ Experiences of Access to Personal Hygiene and Sanitary Products and Processes During Menstruation

Homelessness and period (menstruation) poverty are recurring global phenomena. In the United States, approximately 220,000 women experience homelessness annually. Studies have shown that approximately 35% of individuals who menstruate experience period poverty while living in Baltimore, Maryland. The theoretical foundation was Wollstonecraft‘s theory of feminism. To better understand this phenomenon, a general qualitative study was conducted using semistructured interviews with 18 people who were once homeless while menstruating. Through data collection and analysis, five themes emerged: (a) women have had to find creative ways of addressing menstruation; (b) women have had to find creative ways of addressing the personal hygiene and sanitation associated with menstruation; (c) due to the absence of family, women relied on religion/faith and strangers to address their personal hygiene and sanitation associated with menstruation; (d) multiple ideas associated with feminism play a role in thoughts and experiences regarding menstruation and menstruation problem solving; and (e) addressing menstruation, sanitation, and homelessness takes a toll on women‘s emotional health. As a result of this study, recommendations that can promote positive social change include: (a) eliminating the Tampon Tax nationally; and (b) making sanitary products free and easily accessible to individuals who are homeless or have limited access.