Commentary Article - (2022) Volume 8, Issue 11
As a result of many disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut explosion, and the economic collapse, severe period poverty has dramatically expanded throughout Lebanon. Lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, cosy settings, and sufficient education about menstrual health are all examples of period poverty. Our study aims to examine stakeholder perspectives on the Lebanese public health policy regarding menstrual health, the evolving challenges it faces in the context of the current economic collapse, and to recommend solutions due to the significant negative effects of period poverty on Lebanese women's health. The difficulties with menstruation health were divided into old and new difficulties. The social, physical, and mental effects of poor menstruation health were addressed. Stakeholders offered both immediate and long-term advice. In the short term, it was suggested that the financial burden be reduced by providing coupons or by subsidising menstruation products. Long-term proposals included encouraging local production to ensure future sustainability, effective education at all levels, and collaboration between important figures in the corporate and public sectors.
The biological process of menstruation carries social and economic weight. Health is described as "a condition of total physical, mental, and social wellness and not only the absence of disease or infirmity" in the 1948 constitution of the World Health Organization. Menstrual Health (MH) has gained increased prominence in public health policy in recent years as part of initiatives to enhance the health of women in society. According to the Global Menstrual Collective, effective MH comprises a condition of total physical, emotional, and social welfare with regard to menstruation in addition to the absence of sickness. A human rights concern, adequate and sanitary MH should be handled as such. Ineffective MH has effects on social status, career, education, and health. Further complicating MH is the differential accessibility of suitable goods and sufficient menstrual hygiene environments across diverse socioeconomic and geographic levels.
Numerous papers and recent international conferences have drawn attention to how MH is an important but frequently ignored aspect of sanitation globally, which is exacerbated in low- and lowmiddle-income nations. An estimated 200 million menstruation girls and women live in low-income nations where they are unable to get sufficient sanitary goods on a daily basis. Disposable and reusable sanitary products are used less frequently in low- and low-middle-income nations as a result of high costs and reduced supply. Menstrual products were not included in attempts to subsidise necessities like petrol and medicines. Sanitary pads and other period goods are now priced four to ten times higher than they were prior to the financial crisis. Women were compelled to explore alternatives, whether that meant sacrificing quality and purchasing less expensive brands or recycling old items like rugs and diapers.
Although MH issues are not new, they have historically primarily affected people from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, such as refugees. Women and girls across the nation are worried about period poverty as a result of the present economic downturn. Significant effects of poor MH on women and girls in Lebanon during the crisis may be shown in the 43% who report anxiety and tension over their periods, the 36% who experience physical symptoms, and the 35.9% who avoid participating in everyday activities as a result of their poor period management. These days, inadequate MH also contributes to psychological and social issues. In addition, 46.5% of the women who responded to the study said they were embarrassed by their periods, and 47% said they were concerned that other people would find out they were menstruation.
Menstrual health public policy in the context of the current economic crisis. In particular, we'll talk about the lack of policies and provide solutions for getting menstrual health supplies, getting educated, and coping with potential consequences in the education and labour sectors.
Historically restricted to disadvantaged groups like immigrants and migrant domestic servants. The country's women are now faced with an unexpected choice: whether to spend their money on period hygiene products or other requirements because the problems have reduced the population's purchasing power. As a result of the recent development of widespread financial poverty, widespread period poverty has emerged. More than ever before, women are turning to risky behaviours that seriously endanger their physical and mental health. Combating societal stigma, easing financial strain, and safeguarding women's health must all be prioritised in order to change this. To safeguard women's rights to a safe, sanitary, and open MH, action must be taken to solve these challenges. While some actions must be taken right once, it may take some time before many projects bear fruit. Seeds can be planted now to better prepare the next generation to address inequalities in women's health in general, including but not limited to MH, as women traverse the tumult of current crises.
Citation: Chiotis A. A Qualitative Analysis of the Economic Crisis and Reproductive Health. Health Econ Outcome Res: Open Access. 2022, 08 (11), 05
Received: 07-Nov-2022, Manuscript No. HEOR-22-82368; Editor assigned: 08-Nov-2022, Pre QC No. HEOR-22-82368 (PQ); Reviewed: 21-Nov-2022, QC No. HEOR-22-82368 (Q); Revised: 26-Nov-2022, Manuscript No. HEOR-22-82368 (R); Published: 30-Nov-2022, DOI: 10.35248/2471-268X.22.8.11.5
Copyright: © 2022 Chiotis A. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
