Breaking the Cycle: A School-Based Period Poverty Intervention
with Sierra Stumpff
This presentation is released on Monday, January 18, 2027.
Fifty-five middle and high school students at two under-resourced schools took part in two sessions covering menstrual health, symptom management, and period poverty, with hands-on activities including assembling period packs. Surveys show improved knowledge, including significant gains in defining period poverty and appropriate tampon use. Students also report fewer missed school days due to lack of products and menstrual symptoms, though that change is not statistically significant in this small sample.
Cite this presentation
Emily Downs; Sierra Stumpff. Breaking the Cycle: A School-Based Period Poverty Intervention. Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine. Accepted for presentation at the 2026–27 National Aequitas Health Conference, Monday, January 18, 2027.
Aequitas Health is a national medical honor society and 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose fellows are selected for community health work serving those in need. It is a 2023 recipient of the McNulty Prize Catalyst Fund (McNulty Foundation and Aspen Institute). This is one of 21 presentations at the 2026–27 National Conference, which is free, virtual and open to anyone.