Period Product Insecurity Is Increasing in the United States: Trends from 2018 to 2021.

ABSTRACT

Background: Data documenting period product insecurity, or an inability to access products, in the United States have recently emerged. With multiple years of data now available, we assessed trends in period product insecurity among two nationally representative samples of U.S. adults. Materials and Methods: Data from nationally representative, cross-sectional online surveys conducted in January 2018 and April 2021 were used to run weighted logistic regressions. Those aged 18-49 years and who had menstruated in the past year (n = 922 in 2018; n = 1037 in 2021) were included. Results: In 2021, 59% experienced period product insecurity compared with 53% in 2018. In 2018 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.91, confidence interval [95% CI] 1.29-2.83) and 2021 (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.06-2.21), Hispanic respondents were more likely to find products unaffordable. Some college attainment was associated with finding products unaffordable in 2018 (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.00-2.34) and 2021 (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.35-2.88). Participants struggling to purchase products had higher odds of experiencing period product insecurity in 2018 (aOR 11.78, 95% CI 8.07-17.20) and 2021 (aOR 7.71, 95% CI 5.44-10.93). Conclusions: Hispanic ethnicity, lower educational attainment, and struggling to purchase period products were strong predictors of finding products unaffordable and experiencing product insecurity in both 2018 and 2021. Policies that improve access to or affordability of period products in the United States are needed to help those most vulnerable.