Period Poverty and the Quality of Life in the United States, India, and Pakistan

An online survey (N=776 participants) conducted through Prolific and Besample examined how period poverty and country of origin affect the quality of life of menstruators in the U.S., Pakistan, and India. ANOVA and post-hoc tests revealed that U.S. participants reported better quality of life than those from India and Pakistan, but only among women not experiencing period poverty. Overall, period poverty was associated with poorer quality of life, though it only undermined physical and psychological health among U.S. and Indian participants. This study highlights the need for health professionals and policymakers to address period poverty and its health impacts globally.