How Reusable, Washable Pads Can Transform Girls’ Education
May 8, 2025
Period poverty isn’t a global abstraction—it’s a deeply local crisis in South Africa, where millions of girls miss school each month because of their period. This blog explores the scale, the causes, and why it matters.
How Big Is the Problem?
7 Million Girls, 25% of the School Year
According to the South African Journal of Child Health, about 7 million girls are absent every month due to lack of sanitary products—translating to roughly 25% of their school year lost.
Product Shortages: 1 in 7 Girls Struggle
A Gauteng study (2018) found 15% of schoolgirls didn’t have enough products over three months. Those without products were twice as likely (46%) to miss school, compared with those who did (22%)
Why These Absences Happen
A. Lack of Sanitary Products
Girls unable to afford or access pads or tampons are faced with three unappealing choices: stay home, use unsafe alternatives, or risk embarrassment and ridicule. The Gauteng study confirms the product gap is a leading factor in absenteeism.
B. Poor Sanitation Infrastructure
Over 1,700 schools in South Africa still use pit toilets—cramped, unclean, with no water or privacy. Without reliable facilities, changing or washing materials is near impossibe.
C. Pain and Emotional Factors
For many, it’s not just about products—menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea), discomfort, teasing, and stigma take a toll. In Gauteng, over 70% of girls who missed school cited pain as the primary reason.
