Plymouth listed in worst 10 cities for period poverty

PLYMOUTH is among the top 10 cities of women struggling to afford sanitary products. Many people in the city are hit by period poverty, with 26% unable to pay for tampons, pads and menstrual cups.

- KATIE TIMMS

The study of 2,000 females who menstruate, revealed the 10 cities in the UK hardest hit by the widespread issue.

Brighton and Hove topped the table, with 46% of women and girls who cannot afford the items, with Oxford (40%) and Birmingham (34%), second and third respectively. But Plymouth was inside the top ten.

While those in Cambridge and York (both 32%) also admit there are some months when they struggle. Overall, a quarter of the female population admit their menstruation is a challenging time because they now find it more difficult to afford period products compared to 12 months ago. Of these, 90% say the rising cost of living is already making an impact, while a fifth now provide for another family member in addition to themselves.

One in 10 women admitted they had found it harder getting work during the pandemic, and a 7% lost their job. The study was commissioned by global hygiene and health company Essity, which has supported charity, In Kind Direct, which distributes usable donated consumer goods, for 20-years.