Addressing Hygiene Poverty and Restoring Dignity: A Community Partnership Through Laundry Love.

Ablah, Elizabeth; Long, Nadine; Hollins, Kara; Miller, Callie; Owings, Charell; Weaver, Kimberly; Love, Jody; Martinez, Clarissa Carrillo et al. · Am J Public Health · 2026

case_report · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Hygiene poverty is a term describing the inability to afford essential hygiene products such as laundry detergent, toothpaste, menstrual products, or diapers, which profoundly affects dignity. Few community-level strategies have been developed to improve access to hygiene or "dignity" products. This case study from Kansas highlights the process and outcomes of a successful community-driven intervention that originated in one county and was adopted by 10 other Kansas counties. (<i>Am J Public Health.</i> 2026;116(5):615-618. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308410).

Medical subject headings