Hygiene poverty
Hygiene poverty is the inability to afford hygiene essentials, such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, grooming products, dish soap, and period products.
period poverty
Period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these. It affects an estimated 500 million people worldwide.
worldwide
Hygiene poverty exists all around the world, with about 2.3 billion people lacking basic hygiene services.
UK
According to a report cited on the Hygiene Bank website, thousands of UK families can’t afford toothpaste, soap or shampoo for kids.
Usa
According to a 2017 CBS News item, one in three U.S. families with young children report that they are unable to afford an adequate supply of diapers for their children.
Worldwide Hygiene Poverty
Hygiene poverty exists all around the world, with about 2.3 billion people lacking basic hygiene services. According to cdc.gov, out of the 2.3 billion, 670 million lack any handwashing facilities at all.
In low-income countries, there are many challenges in having proper hygiene care. With hygiene products such as soaps, toothbrushes, razors, etc. becoming more expensive by the day, those who live in poverty have trouble buying these products. There are also many countries where it is difficult even to have access to all these products, so they end up neglecting their personal hygiene because of the lack of access to keeping clean.
In the US
A 2013 study released by Feeding America revealed that many families with children struggle to afford basic, non-food household goods like personal care, baby care, and household cleaning products. According to a 2017 CBS News item, one in three U.S. families with young children report that they are unable to afford an adequate supply of diapers for their children. Since there are no government programs specifically catered to address hygiene poverty, we can assume not much has changed in this regard.
Hygiene products, dental products, or cleaning supplies cannot be purchased with food stamps (SNAP program in the United States). It can be safely assumed that every city has a food bank or a place where food donations can be received. That is not the case with hygiene products. Some cities have such organizations dedicated to hygiene products or diapers but nothing like the national network of Hygiene Bank in the UK. Teresa Hamilton, Executive Director of Giving the Basics organization in Kansas, indicates in her interview with Parents magazine that the biggest need is for the manufacturers to connect with the non-profits in this area and donate products.
In the UK
According to a report cited on the Hygiene Bank website, thousands of UK families can’t afford toothpaste, soap, or shampoo for kids. In the UK Poverty 2022 report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the poverty rates in the United Kingdom are Wales-23%, England-22%, Northern Ireland-18%, and Scotland-19%.
The Hygiene Bank (THB) in the UK is one charity that is dedicated to addressing the issue of hygiene poverty. They are a grassroots, people-powered charity and social movement grounded in community. In 2021 THB supported over ½ million people with Hygiene Essentials (623,100 units).