Navigating Menstrual Health Challenges An Exploration of University Students’ Experiences amid Financial Constraints

For women, menstrual hygiene is an essential component of overall health. Achieving menstrual health means giving women and girls the resources and support they need to confidently take care of their bodies. The challenges of menstrual health are exacerbated due to period poverty and it is a problem with long-standing worldwide implications for community health. Period poverty is characterized by limited access to sanitary facilities, education, and menstruation supplies. The present study focuses on the unique challenges that university students encounter concerning menstrual health, particularly in the context of financial constraints. This research aims to shed light on the intersection of period poverty, academic life, and the ability to manage menstrual health challenges effectively. Different experiences of menstrual challenges faced by female university students due to financial constraints could be broadly grouped into four main themes including financial struggles, product choice and cultural sensitivities, physical and psychological challenges, and adapting to financial constraints. Many important economic and social problems are brought about by the rising cost of personal hygiene products and the ensuing impact on the financial standing of female college students. In order to enhance menstrual health, it is also imperative to address societal taboos surrounding certain hygiene items. Our findings show how important it is to acknowledge and address the financial aspects of menstruation health, increase awareness of less expensive options, and advocate for freely available and economically feasible menstrual hygiene products for female university students.