‘Shocking’ Survey Stirs Debate over Period Poverty in Croatia

"Our fellow citizens are not always able to buy the right supplies or have the basic conditions to maintain hygiene, which is truly devastating for us as a society."

Results 'caused a stir'

Illustration. Photo: Pixabay/kerplode.

PaRiter, which is based in the northern coastal city of Rijeka, conducted the online questionnaire between mid-September and early October last year, with more than 6,000 people responding.

Matejcic said the results - published on February 18 - revealed significant shortcomings in the hygiene maintenance conditions and "non-recognition of this phenomenon" by employers and educational institutions, where a considerable number of women said they had no access to toilets, toilet paper, hot water or soap.

Around 56 per cent of respondents said they spent more than 5.2 euros per month on period products. Some 27 per cent also spent up to four euros on painkillers and 36.4 per cent said they paid roughly four euros.

"Ten per cent were in a situation where they could not afford painkillers during menstruation, and 8.8 per cent said they had a situation where they did not change the pad or tampon for more than six to eight hours because they could not afford more menstrual supplies," said Matejcic.

"We sent the results, as well as recommendations, to all parliamentary caucuses to inform them of our findings and ways to solve the problem," she told BIRN. "Among the general public, the results caused a considerable stir and we believe that through this we have expanded the knowledge of many people."

Moves to cut VAT rate on period products

Illustration. Photo: EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK.

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