Menstrual Poverty in Venezuela

Menstrual hygiene products are unaffordable for most Venezuelan women. The minimum wage only covers 8% of the food basket.

  • 1

    Minimum
    wage

    $29
    per month
  • 2

    Basic
    food basket

    $365
    per month
  • 3

    % of women in poverty
    in Venezuela

    95%

That is why 9 out of 10 women in Venezuela
are facing menstrual poverty:

  • MENSTRUAL
    POVERTY

  • Lack of
    menstrual products

  • Lack of
    adequate sanitary conditions
    (water, sanitation and waste control)

  • Lack of
    menstrual education

Menstrual poverty deepens gender inequality and
perpetuates women's poverty:

  • Economic
    handicap

    Lack of menstrual products paralyzes productive activities of women & girls:

    • Girls stop going to school
    • Women stop going to work

  • Health
    problems

    In Venezuela, 59% of women have suffered from vaginal infection or UTIs due to inadequate menstrual products

  • Emotional
    well-being

    Embarrassment associated with menstruation worsens with lack of menstrual products

Estela Project
Fighting Menstrual Poverty Menstrual Poverty in Venezuela: see survey results