264 - A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Access to Menstrual Products for Shelter Residents

Poster Number: 264
Publication Number: 264.452

Sarah Revak, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Karen Cuttin, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Katherine Kester, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Sarah L. Mayer, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Bianca Nfonoyim, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Noreena S. Lewis, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Wilmington, DE, United States; Kaitlyn M. Murphy, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Shelby H. Davies, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Background: Adolescents and young adults living in homeless shelters often face high rates of period poverty--the lack of consistent access to menstrual products. The quantity and quality of products available often depends on internal funding and is variable, with little choice left to the shelter residents.

Objective: The Menstrual Health Equity Initiative (MHEI) is a quality improvement initiative aimed at improving access to menstrual products for shelter residents in the greater Philadelphia area.

Design/Methods: From December 2020 to December 2022, period packs were delivered initially to 3 shelters through pre-existing relationships with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Homeless Health Initiative, with 5 shelters added through outreach. Packs were customized based on product absorbency and type, and the variety of packs provided to each shelter was adjusted monthly based on feedback from shelter staff. The quantity of monthly period packs delivered was compared at three points during the 2-year implementation period. Balancing measures included shelter resident attitudes towards period packs, assessed through an anonymous survey included in each pack, and shelter staff feedback.

Results: The quantity of monthly period packs increased primarily through additional shelter partnerships, facilitated by increased institutional funding. Six months into the intervention, ~50 packs/month were being supplied across 3 shelters. At one year ~250 packs/month were being supplied (5 shelters) and at two years ~300 packs/month were being supplied (8 shelters). Over 2 years, 96 shelter residents completed the survey (33 respondents at 1 year). Approximately 25% of respondents were < 25 years old, reflecting the target population of youths and young adults. At both time points, all (100%) respondents found period packs to be helpful. At two years, 96% expressed that period packs would help them attend school, work, or a job interview that month, compared to 25% at one year. Shelter staff shared that the initiative brought “comfort and ease” to shelter residents and fit well with the shelter model of “hospitality, uniqueness and customer service.”  

Conclusion(s): Implementation of the MHEI was associated with the successful delivery of period products to residents at participating shelters. Within the 2-year study period, the MHEI saw a 6-fold increase in the number of period packs delivered each month, and an almost 3-fold increase in the number of shelters served. As the MHEI delivers more menstrual products, it continues to be widely accepted and universally found to be helpful among shelter residents and shelter staff.