Menstrual period symptoms may be linked to nearly nine days of lost productivity every year through presenteeism, a peer-reviewed international study has stated.
But the real impact on women and society is underestimated and poorly appreciated, say the researchers in the largest study of its kind which was published in the online journal BMJ Open.
The study set out to evaluate lost productivity associated with menstrual symptoms, as measured by time off from work or school (absenteeism) and working or studying while feeling ill (presenteeism) in 32,748 Dutch women between the ages of 15 and 45.
Those surveyed were asked if their symptoms had prompted them to take time off from work or school and/or had affected their productivity while working or studying, as well as how often this had happened.
According to the study, those surveyed said that their blood loss lasted an average of five days.
In all, around one in seven respondents (just under 14 per cent, 4,514) said they had taken time off from work or school during their period, with nearly 3.5 per cent (1,108) saying this happened during every, or nearly every, menstrual cycle.
The average amount of sickness leave taken came to just over one day a year.
Researchers concluded that, “Menstruation-related symptoms cause a great deal of lost productivity, and presenteeism is a bigger contributor to this than absenteeism.”
“Taking all the symptoms into account, it seems likely that the real impact of (menstruation-related symptoms) is underestimated in the general population.”
But it is not openly talked about, the researcher added.
This situation is, however, not only taking place beyond our borders.
And as such from next month the Crown Her project will be launched to help tackle the issue.
Crown Her is a non-governmental organisation initiative spearheaded by The Supermarket Association, initiative member Dr Nadira Rambocas partnering with the T&T Medical Association, Rotary Clubs of Piarco, Sangre Grande, St Augustine and St Augustine West and The Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
“In order to lend the highest credence to the Crown Her initiative, a proposed academic study crouched with an academic framework under the guidance of peerless institutions such as the University of the West Indies, will seek to produce the relevant data to reflect period poverty as an issue of great national concern,” Maria Mohammed-Maharaj stated.
“The study will ensure that the results are reproducible as well as minimising any bias where the study is to be undertaken,” she stated.
Crown Her stated that it is aiming to address the issue head on.
“On a worldwide basis, one in every two women lack the essential sanitary products due to their high costs. This inequitable situation, coupled with inaccessibility, has been made more apparent during this current COVID-19 pandemic. Many women are forced to search for alternative means, including clothes and blankets or unsanitary items in order to manage their inevitable menstrual cycles,” the Crown Her project states.
“Today, unfortunately, these women are forced to view these menstrual products as more of a luxury when it should be considered a necessary commodity,” it stated.
As such Crown Her has stated that one possible solution in alleviating period poverty and thereby contributing to positive female health is by reducing or eliminating costs associated with these feminine products.
“This, however, requires government collaboration in eliminating taxes or ensuring at least one sanitary product be made free for all menstruating women,” it stated.
“To get this done this would involve, conducting a survey to determine need and cost associated with these products from various strata of the menstruating population, drafting of legislation to ensure this proposal is viable and sustainable whilst engaging the various relevant Ministries in ensuring feminine products are made accessible to all,” the Crown Her project has stated.
Scotland was the first and only country to offer free menstrual products.
“It has been shown that at least one free feminine or menstrual hygiene product will not only enhance physical health but will also positively impact on social and economic health as well. Women will no longer need to isolate themselves, compromise their physical health, avoid school or work due to lack of the necessary tools needed during their menses, budget or sacrificing from their earnings and therefore can conduct their daily lives carefree and participate with dignity,” it stated.
Crown Her stated that many girls and women buckle under the pressure of bills that come with handling their monthly menstrual cycles.
“The average female experiences approximately 500 menstrual cycles in their lifetime and according to international data and from personal experience can spend up to $100 a month to over $1,200 a year on menstrual products alone. This equates to over $45,000 over her reproductive lifetime (average range of menses 12 years to 50 years),” it stated.
“Alarmingly, this cost is significantly greater owing to various other expenditure associated with having a menstrual cycle such as: doctor’s visits, pain and acne medication and birth control use,” Crown Her stated.
Crown Her, therefore, stated that over a lifetime any woman can spend over $126,000 or more.
“As such, the onset of menses means a new expense, risk of infections, and even days off school or work,” it stated.
Crown Her stated that for too many women, acquiring these products is a luxury and not a commodity.
“Most governments have failed to realise that feminine hygiene is a national health issue: a natural biological process that many females have limited control. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this pressure has risen tremendously with our struggling economy. It has especially become a huge expense for those families on the lower economic strata,” it stated.
“It should therefore be a crucial matter that should be addressed by government to assist our women. Menstrual products are essential and basic necessities for women and lack of access can lead to health issues, low productivity, and less participation with dignity,” Crown Her stated.
Crown Her commended Dwayne Bravo on his sanitary napkin machine initiative and the various non-governmental organisations such as Helping Her foundation and the PNM women’s league for assisting in providing affordable and free menstrual products to our women.
“Whilst, we applaud that these products are indeed VAT (Value Added Tax) exempted, we would however appeal to the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, the Ministry of Health, The Director of Women’s Health, The Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Social Development T&T to ensure at least one feminine menstrual product be made available free,” it stated.
Crown Her stated that it recognises that the implementation of free feminine products by the relevant authorities will involve a long process.
“We recommend that these be made available on the currently existing CDAP (Chronic Diseases Assistance Programme) to ensure that this process is amenable and feasible. We note that CDAP which costs approximately $11.2 million (Joint Select Committee Report, 2019) and is managed by Nipdec (National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd) that tenders for pharmaceuticals and whose advertised financial reports indicated a profit of $27.2 million in 2019,” it stated.
“Therefore, the introduction of at least one feminine hygiene product on the CDAP programme should be economically feasible utilising our females’ birth certificate PIN or National Identification Card,” Crown Her stated.
Soroptimist International Esperance
Also adding their voices to the issue of period poverty is the Soroptimist International Esperance team.
Esperance is a French word that translates to hope in English.
And providing “hope” is exactly what Rabbia Khan of Soroptimist International Esperance says is the aim of the initiative.
“We focus on women and girls we want to transform the lives and status of women and girls by providing the three Es: education, empowerment and enabling opportunities,” Khan said.
Khan said the period poverty initiative falls under the Health and Food Security Gender Parity and Economic Empowerment of women.
“Because if a woman feels secure in herself she can have greater potential,” Khan said.
Khan said the issue of menstruation affects about 3.5 billion around the world monthly.
And period poverty is a concern.
“So we do have the problem but it is a very quiet problem,” she said.
“We have many girls and women who cannot afford to buy these products because they are quite expensive and that was why I was appealing to the government to remove customs duty or even subsidise because women products are essential but it is seen as a luxury item,” Khan said.
Khan said there is currently no relief from the issue.
“Some women actually miss work and some women may be ashamed to say why they are staying at home whether it is because they cannot afford it,” Khan said.
“Now women who are working will also have that problem but someone would have a lot of pain during menstruation and that is endometriosis,” she said.
Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus—the endometrium—grows outside your uterus.
Khan said the issue is so prevalent that there is a registered non-profit organisation named the T&T Endometriosis Association (TTEA).
Soroptimist International Esperance currently has a pilot project going on in the Barrackpore area with two schools.
Khan said Alstons Marketing Company Ltd (AMCO) has helped the group provide two packs of sanitary pads monthly for 80 schoolgirls last term.
“We want to promote not only period poverty but period positivity. We want girls to realise that there is no shame, there is no taboo, you are not dirty at this time we want to empower them and make them feel positive and find their potential,” Khan said.
Khan said the Menstrupedia comic which is a guide to educate people around the world about menstrual cycles has also been ordered to help in their education drive.
End period poverty
The Always #EndPeriodPoverty campaign was officially launched on April 1 and will run until June 30.
AMCO senior brand manager Tiffany George said during this time, consumers have the opportunity to get involved with the initiative as every Always purchase will trigger a donation.
For every pack of Always pads purchased, Always will in turn directly donate to a girl in need.
This she said will help women who may have lost their jobs and may be picking and choosing what they buy each month.
This year Always said it aimed to donate over 160,000 sanitary pads to seven secondary schools in T&T: Coryal Secondary, Morvant Laventille Secondary, Matura Secondary, Penal Secondary, Palo Seco Secondary, Guayaguayare Secondary and Speyside Secondary.
NGO Kids in Need of Direction (KIND) will once again partner with Always to assist with the distribution of the sanitary pads, along with the assistance of the Helping Her Foundation.
As part of the campaign, a host of social media influencers will be engaged to help increase awareness, educate and advocate for the needs of girls and women facing period poverty.
Some of this year’s influencers are Anasha Tewari-Bridgelal, Leah Herbert, Megan Mohammed, Shenilee Hazell, Thema Williams, Whitney Husbands and Keevan Lewis.
George described the Crown Her initiative as a “really nice initiative trying to bring a permanent solution.”
STEPS INVOLVED IN PROCESS FOR THE CROWN HER PROJECT:
1. Determining the need for sanitary products and ensuring menstrual equity by conducting a prospective survey over a three month period. This survey/study would involve females using a specified age range from various districts throughout T&T.
2. Submission of study results to the relevant authorities and stakeholders involved. The subsequent formation of a parliamentary subcommittee to assimilate the relevant information, determine feasibility including budget allocation and drafting of the necessary legislation to be debated in Parliament.
3. Debating in Parliament and subsequent enactment of the relevant legislation into the laws of T&T.
4. Proclamation of the established law and dissemination of at least one free appropriate menstrual product to all females especially to those in the lower economic strata.
