one in three French people do without hygiene products

An Ifop survey reveals the sacrifices that some French people make on their hygiene to cope with the economic context of inflation.

By IM with AFP

Hygienic insecurity primarily affects the poorest households.
© Patrick Lefevre / MAXPPP / BELPRESS/MAXPPP

Published on 03/21/2023 at 10:05 p.m.

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SAccording to an Ifop poll for the association Dons solidaires, revealed on Tuesday March 21 by Release, a third of French people do without hygiene products because of the economic context. And this precariousness is getting worse. Hygienic precariousness, which « lowers self-esteem and leads to isolation », « continues to progress and is no longer the prerogative of the beneficiaries of associations » fight against poverty, was alarmed in a press release this association which collects unsold products from companies to give them to the charitable sector.

In detail, 7% of respondents indicate that they brush their teeth without toothpaste, 8% wash without soap or shower gel, and 17% of parents do not change their child’s diapers as frequently as they would like. During the previous barometer on this subject, in 2021, these proportions were approximately half as much. « How can you feel worthy when you lack such essential products? » wondered Dominique Besançon, the general delegate of Dons solidaires, who wishes « warn about this precariousness still too little considered ».

« Sometimes I wash the children with water alone »

Logically, the figures are even more alarming when we specifically question poor people, beneficiaries of associations in the Solidarity Donations network: 73% say they deprive themselves of hygiene products in general, 34% shampoo and 31% menstrual protection . « Sometimes I wash the children with water alone, or tell them to just do a quick wash », testifies a mother of two children, quoted in the press release. Another indicates using toilet paper for period protection: « I deprive myself to leave more protection to my daughters »she explains.

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Ifop survey for Dons solidaires, carried out on two panels: a representative sample of 1,501 respondents, plus 300 parents of children aged three or under, questioned by self-administered online questionnaire in November 2022; and a sample of 1,162 beneficiaries of associations in precarious and socially excluded situations, interviewed in January and February 2023 at the premises of partner associations.