Research Article
28 April 2025
Authors: Jordan Monks, Arlette Ibrahim, Aki M. Gormezano https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8676-130X, and Nathan J. Lachowsky https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6336-8780Author information and affiliations
Publication: The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
Volume 34, Number 1
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Abstract
Globally, people who menstruate do not have equitable access to menstrual products. Menstrual hygiene and equitable access to menstrual products are important for mental, emotional, and physical health. While past research shows that there is menstrual inequity on a global level, less is known about access to menstrual products specifically in Canada. In the present study, the authors conducted a bilingual (English and French) online environmental scan to determine the extent to which people in Canada who menstruate have access to the products they need. Specifically, they examined programs and organizations in Canada that distribute and/or support access to menstrual products. The authors found that many programs targeted school-aged youth. By contrast, few initiatives focused on the workplace, and there were fewer programs in rural and small communities compared with large urban populations. The results highlight gaps in program type and locale that could be used to improve menstrual equity.
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References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
Volume 34 • Number 1 • April 2025
Pages: 75 - 82
Copyright
© Sex Information and Education Council of Canada. The publisher holds the copyright for the article.
History
Received: 25 November 2024
Revision received: 10 February 2025
Accepted: 11 February 2025
Published in print: April 2025
Published online: 28 April 2025
Keywords :
- Environmental scan
- menstrual inequity
- reproductive health
- social determinants of health
Authors
Affiliations
Jordan Monks
School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Arlette Ibrahim
School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Aki M. Gormezano https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8676-130X
School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Nathan J. Lachowsky https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6336-8780
School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Institute for Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Notes
FUNDING: The authors acknowledge the support of Women and Gender Equality Canada, which made this valuable project possible.
CORRESPONDENCE concerning this article should be addressed to Nathan Lachowsky, University of Victoria, 8205, School of Public Health and Social Policy, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, University of Victoria, 8205, Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. E-mail: [emailprotected].
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Accessibility gaps in menstrual products: An environmental scan of access programs in Canada
Jordan Monks, Arlette Ibrahim, Aki M. Gormezano, and Nathan J. Lachowsky
The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality 2025 34:1, 75-82
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