Four million Australians cannot afford basic personal hygiene and cleaning products, new research suggests. Source: News.com.au.
Up to one-in-five people are going without soap, toothpaste, pads and tampons or deodorant, results of a new survey from charity network Good360 suggests. The researchers deem being unable to afford these essentials as “hygiene poverty”.
“The impacts of hygiene poverty are wide-ranging, with our research showing it takes a devastating toll on people’s mental and physical wellbeing,” Good360 managing director Alison Covington said.
“Hygiene poverty can cause feelings of low self-esteem, embarrassment and shame, and make it difficult for people to maintain their health.”
Good360 donates new and unsold clothes, homewares, toiletries and toys from hundreds of retailers to thousands of Australian charities and schools. The charity has surveyed 1000 Australians to see how many people cannot afford hygiene and cleaning products, and the results were released today.
One-in-seven survey respondents are unable to afford cleaning products, the survey finds.
Women and young people are more likely to experience hygiene poverty. About 30 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 are concerned about affording hygiene and cleaning products, as are 21 per cent of women.
“Our research also highlights the significant consequences on daily life, such as people avoiding social events or other critical commitments such as work and school,” Ms Covington said.
“Eliminating hygiene poverty isn’t just about ensuring people have access to toothpaste and deodorant, it’s about helping people to live a dignified and healthy life.
“There should not be millions of Australians, including children, going without the basics they need to thrive,” she said.
The latest consumer price index data shows health costs having risen 4.1 per cent in the past year, while furnishings, household equipment and services costs have risen 1.1 per cent in the capital cities during the past three months.
Food inflation is running at 3 per cent for the past 12 months.
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‘Devastating’: Millions of people cannot afford hygiene, cleaning basics (By Blair Jackson, News.com.au)
