Access to Material Basic Needs and Women's Health

Material basic needs such as menstrual supplies, infant and child diapers, and adult incontinence products are required for health and hygiene, yet are often overlooked for their role in facilitating healthy behaviours, community participation, mental health, and overall well-being. Unmet material basic needs are associated with multiple and compounding stressors - the stress of not having these needs met, and the stress of trying to meet them. These stressors influence health. Although screening in the healthcare setting for social drivers of health has increased in recent years, few of the screening tools used assess unmet needs for the most basic material essentials like toothpaste, laundry detergent, and hygiene products. The aim of this Special Collection is to document the link between access to material basic needs and women’s health across the life course.