Women in Lithuanian prisons use rags when menstrual products run short

Some women in Lithuanian prisons use rags or old clothes when they run out of menstrual products, while stigma can make them reluctant to ask for more, LRT reports.

Martyna Marčauskienė, an operations manager at Prirašytos rankos, an organisation that works with people in prison, said the products provided do not always meet women’s needs. Women receive menstrual products for free when they arrive, but must submit a request for additional supplies. The request is assessed to determine whether they can pay and whether they qualify for free products.

Marčauskienė said the system provides women with hygiene products, but questioned whether the current arrangements meet their needs effectively. The choice is also limited because the prison service supplies products from a single tender-winning provider, despite differences in women’s needs.

Some women feel uncomfortable asking for more products and instead use whatever they can find, including rags, Marčauskienė said. Those who can afford it may buy supplies at the prison shop, where the selection is limited.

Reda Jureliavičiūtė, head of the Lygiai association, said menstrual products can be expensive at prison shops, while some women may not have enough money to buy them. She said social stigma makes it difficult to discuss menstruation, and women may resort to unsuitable materials such as old clothes. Marčauskienė warned that a lack of proper products can also increase the risk of infection.

The Lithuanian Prison Service says shortages are not a systemic problem, but acknowledges that some women may hesitate to request additional supplies.