# data[].attributes.body
"Period poverty impacts the most vulnerable students and is a situation that has been exacerbated by increased financial pressures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students who cannot afford menstrual products may experience a higher rate of absenteeism from school, challenges to engage fully in the classroom, and negative health effects, such as infections and toxic shock syndrome. It can also affect their social and emotional well-being.

Student trustees and more than half of the school boards across Ontario reported a need to address access to menstrual products.

Minister Lecce has met with and listened to advocacy from the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association and Toronto Youth Cabinet, along with numerous school boards, which have advocated over the past months for action to end menstrual poverty" (News Ontario, 2021).

The phenomenon that students in poverty cannot buy proper menstrual products for economic reasons has been worsening since the Covid-19 outbreak. I can't even imagine, for example, putting a thick layer of tissue paper or other cloths on my underwear instead of a sanitary. Menstruation is something that every woman must goes through, and it's really sad they don't have the money to afford products. With the poverty, they should have a high risk of bacterial infection. The Canadian government is trying to break down barriers to menstrual poverty by providing all students with sanitary for free. I think it is grateful for this support but it should not be temporary responses. I hope and wait for the government to address further inequalities.

Resources
Ontario Newsroom. (2021, October 8). Ontario Newsroom. https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000941/ontario-launches-free-menstrual-products-in-schools

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ontario Launches Free Menstrual Products in Schools

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
TORONTO — Following months of collaboration and negotiation, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, announced that the Ontario Government will distribute six million free menstrual products per y

# data[].attributes.headline
Understanding Report on Key Health Inequalities in Canada

# data[].attributes.subject
Understanding Report on Key Health Inequalities in Canada

# data[].attributes.body
Socio-economic determinants of health defines different levels of advantage and disadvantage were associated with different health. A strong relationship between health and income, education levels, employment, and occupational status was evident that they have become progressively worse.

Major health inequalities were found for those who were living in lower lower socioeconomic households, such as Indigenous peoples, sexual and racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants, etc.

Health inequality exist in Canada’s health care system, although it says universal health care system. Health inequality be present in social, economic and demographic factors, including age, sex, income, education, employment, occupation, Indigenous identity, rural/urban residence, immigrant status, sexual orientation, functional health (physical and mental impairment), and cultural/racial background. Even, First nation people are not included in the universal health care system.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Understanding the report on Key Health Inequalities in Canada - Canada.ca

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Key Health Inequalities in Canada report describes the degree and distribution of key health inequalities in Canada, a critical step in taking action to advance health equity.

# data[].attributes.body
Some social determinants of health include:

- Housing
- Race
- Sexual Orientation
- Disability
- Education
- Early life

Each community is different and experiences SES of mental health in different ways. (Canadian Mental Health Association, n.d)

# data[].attributes.headline
Video Explaining Health Inequalities in Canada

# data[].attributes.subject
Video Explaining Health Inequalities in Canada

# data[].attributes.body
We have free access to doctors and hospital visits. However, access to health care is one of the many factors that determine health, such as income, early years, and education.

They give different examples of two different situations where Eddie is living in a lower-income household and Sandra, who lives in a higher-income household. Eddie has been hospitalized due to asthma 3 times just that year, while Sandra who has asthma as well hasn't been hospitalized since she was diagnosed as an infant. Asthma hospitalizations are 1.5x higher with children living in low-income neighbourhoods, like Eddie, compared to children living in higher-income neighbourhoods, like Sandra. There is a difference in health between higher-income groups and low-income groups.

We need to limit the barriers in order to make health care become more equitable and accessible.

Systems of Stratification:
-age
-sex
-neighbourhood-level income
-geography

Measuring Health Inequalities: An Introduction. (2018, November 9). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMPZUZ6koVs&t=88s

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Measuring Health Inequalities: An Introduction