Menstrual Hygiene and Vulnerable Populations: Examining the Role of Nursing in Issues of Social Justice

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore common barriers to menstrual hygiene among vulnerable populations on a domestic and global scale. The term “period poverty” is a popular phrase used to describe the challenges that some women face when managing their menstrual health. Common barriers to good menstrual health management are limited access to feminine hygiene products due to environmental factors or financial instability, limited access to clean, private bathing spaces and a social stigma against menstruation that contributes to feelings of embarrassment and shame. This paper will summarize the effects that poor menstrual hygiene can have on health and it will discuss the role that nursing plays in helping women practice proper menstrual hygiene on an individual basis as well as the role of the nurse in battling “period poverty” as a greater public health issue.