Personal Hygiene Items Research Articles

Fabrication of Bio-Based Composite Materials forAntimicrobial Cotton Fabric With Microbial Anti-Adhesive Activity.

The development of multifunctional cotton fabrics that are stain-resistant, antimicrobial, and easy to clean has sparked scientific interest as well as practical usefulness, owing to its medical and healthcare applications. The purpose of this study was to fabricate self-cleaning and antimicrobial cotton for final use by soaking the cotton fabric in nonfluorinated hybrid formulations based on quaternary chitosan-silane using the sol-gel process. The fluorine-free cotton fabric demonstrated high self-cleaning behavior and outstanding bacterial killing efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria, without altering the desired textile properties of cotton fabric. Remarkably, cotton textiles using the hybrid formulations HTACC-VTES (N-(2-hydroxy)propyl-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride-vinyltriethoxy silane) and TMCC-VTES (N, N, N-trimethyl chitosan chloride-vinyltriethoxy silane) demonstrated promising water contact angles of 147° and 142° respectively, indicating a move toward superhydrophobicity. In FTIR spectra, both treated cotton textiles had an absorption peak at 1208 cm-1 (SiOC bending), indicating a stronger interaction between silane binding agents and the cotton substrate. The treated cotton fabric with desirable features retains its stability and endurance after 12 cycles of washing for antibacterial tests and 15 cycles for wettability tests. The manufactured cotton fabric has several potential applications, such as in personal hygiene items and medical applications.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Tinea Capitis Among Primary School Children in the Grand Lomé Region (Togo), 2021: A Cross-Sectional and Case-Control Study Approach.

Tinea capitis is an infectious dermatosis frequent in children, causative fungi variable over time and space. The risk factors associated with this disease are still poorly understood. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of tinea capitis among schoolchildren in Lomé (Togo), identify the fungal species involved and assess the associated risk factors. It was a cross-sectional and case-control study conducted in primary schools in Lomé from November 2020 to April 2021. All pupils presenting tinea capitis suspected lesions have been sampled, and the scraping and hair were examined by direct microscopy in KOH solution and cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide. Positive children were matched by age and sex with those without symptoms for case-control study. Out of the 15,087 pupils enrolled, 465 had positive cultures for dermatophytes, corresponding to the tinea capitis prevalence of 3.08% (95% CI [2.59-3.57]). Trichophyton mentagrophytes (81.86%) and Trichophyton soudanense (13.12%) were the majors isolated dermatophytes. The risk factors were mostly living in households with domestic animals, showering less than twice a day, having a history of ringworm, having similar lesions in the same household and sharing personal hygiene items. This study highlights the low prevalence of tinea capitis in schoolchildren in Lomé (Togo), the causative species dominated by T. mentagrophytes and emphasises the importance of environmental and behavioural factors in the mycosis transmission. Implementing preventive measures addressing the identified factors could help to reduce the prevalence of this disease.

Evidence of plastics contamination and sewage-derived residues in a Brazilian Hope Spot for conservation of marine biodiversity - Cagarras Islands and surrounding waters

Cagarras Islands Archipelago, a no-take MPA in Southeast Brazil, was designated as Natural Monument (MONA Cagarras) and, more recently, recognized as Hope Spot for biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to assess plastic contamination by analyzing marine litter and microplastics in MONA Cagarras and surrounding waters. Marine litter (34.12 kg) was caught by artisanal fishermen in MONA Cagarras proximities, and plastics represented ∼79 %. Personal hygiene items and strains of hair were found, suggesting sewage-derived contamination from Ipanema SSO. Microplastics were detected in MONA Cagarras surface waters. Fragments and black particle were the most frequently found microplastic shape and color, respectively. μ-FTIR analysis identified, in descending order of occurrence, polystyrene-PS, polyethylene-PE, polyvinyl chloride-PVC, polypropylene-P, and polyamide-PA. Our integrated results of macro and microplastic contamination highlight an issue of effective conservation and health of marine biodiversity in MONA Cagarras and surrounding waters and a concern for better management of Brazilian MPAs.

Social care institutions workers of the far eastern federal district awareness on HIV-infection and its significance in providing quality services and lowering self-perceived HIV risk

Objective of the research: to reveal level of awareness and stigmatizing factors that influence service provision, to disclose self-perceived HIV risk of social care workers and a necessity of planning events targeted at increasing their competence concerning the issues of HIV-infection. Materials and methods: by the means of a structured questionnaire, a sociological research was conducted among 386 specialists of social care institutions of 6 constituent entities of the Far Eastern Federal district. Mean age of survey participants was 41.5 years, work experience – 11.2 years. Sociological (survey) and analytical research methods were utilized in the study. Results: HIV/AIDS epidemic is one of main medical and social issues of modern days. Specialists of social care institutions will inevitably meet with people living with HIV during their practice. Their insufficient awareness about HIV transmission route, stigmatization of people living with HIV cause fear and reluctance to work with such recipients of the service. Respondents rated their knowledge on the issue of HIV-infection as satisfactory in 74.7%. All participants were well aware of main routs of HIV transmission however, mother-to-child transmission was known only by 66.1% of respondents. A certain lack of knowl­edge was revealed regarding self-perceived HIV risk as well as anxiety regarding working with HIV-infected clients and high rate of alert when working with HIV-positive colleagues. However, up to 25.7% of respondents expressed their readiness to help people living with HIV. Using condoms, disposable medical instruments and personal hygiene items as well as avoiding intravenous drug use were selected by survey participants as measures of HIV-infection prevention. Conclusion: the results of the research indicate insufficient level of awareness on the issue, because of which a con­clusion can be made that there is a certain degree of stigmatization of clients living with HIV receiving social services, as well as existence of self-perceived occupational vulnerability to HIV among social workers. This reveals a necessity of further surveillance over social workers’ knowledge to define priority topics in order to increase their professional competence on the issue of HIV-infection as well as expediency of holding training seminars for specialists of social care institutions contributing to development of their practical skills in work with HIV-positive clients.

Home care for COVID-19 positive cases: suitability of the residential setting and ability of cases to adhere to the required preventive measures

IntroductionWith the upsurge of COVID-19 cases, Lebanese hospitals were overburdened and hospital care was prioritized for COVID-19 patients with the highest probability of poor outcomes. This paper aimed to assess the suitability of residential settings for home isolation and to explore the patient’s ability to adhere to the required precautions measures.MethodsAll COVID-19 cases reported between February, 21 and the end of June 2020 and who had mild or moderate symptoms, were contacted via phone calls by a healthcare professional to fill out a standardized questionnaire developed to assess the suitability of the residential setting for home care. Inpatient cases were required, before their discharge from the hospitals, to sign consent related to their adherence to the mandatory precautionary measures. They were also asked to complete, on daily basis, the symptoms monitoring log form. A referral system to health facilities was established to manage cases with worsening health status. A collaborative framework to address violations of home isolation rules was also put in place.ResultsOf the 600 cases assessed, 44.7% of them were isolated in a living building apartment (67.2%) with one entrance (85.5%) including four to eight rooms (71%). Around one-quarter of patients have children (< 5 years) and 75% of them were living with elderly people. Most of the patients confirmed the availability of a well-ventilated single room (96.2%) and a separate bathroom (80.17%). As for infrastructure, more than 90% of patients confirmed the availability of drinking and tank water, heating facilities, electricity, and safe trash elimination. Similarly, more than 90% of them had access to personal hygiene items, disinfectants, and personal protective equipment. The bulk of homes care were rated as easily reachable. As for awareness and ability to self-serving, 94.5% of patients were knowledgeable about the required preventive measures, able to serve themselves and to adhere to the isolation requirements as well. Only 51.8% of them had access to psychological support.ConclusionProper assessment of the residential setting for home care of COVID-19 cases combined with close monitoring of the adherence of patients to the required precaution measures are highly needed for limiting the spread of infection within the household and the community.

Can habits and behaviors predict colonization by community-associated MRSA in patients admitted to a Brazilian hospital?

This study aimed to identify factors associated with colonization by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in adult patients admitted to a Brazilian hospital. This is a cross-sectional study, in which patients underwent a nasal swab and were asked about hygiene behavior, habits, and clinical history. Among the 702 patients, 180 (25.6%) had S. aureus and 21 (2.9%) MRSA. The factors associated with MRSA colonization were attending a gym (OR 4.71; 95% CI; 1.42 - 15.06), smoking habit in the last year (OR 2.37; 95% CI; 0.88 - 6.38), previous hospitalization (OR 2.18; CI 95%; 0.89 - 5.25), and shared personal hygiene items (OR 1.99; 95% CI; 0.71 - 5.55). At the time of admission, colonization by CA-MRSA isolates was higher than that found in the general population. This can be an important public health problem, already endemic in hospitals, whose factors such as those associated with habits (smoking cigarettes) and behaviors (team sports practice and activities in gyms) have been strongly highlighted. These findings may help developing infection control policies, allowing targeting patients on higher-risk populations for MRSA colonization.

Equipment that should be carried by a physician who goes to the earthquake region for emergency assistance during the winter season

In February 2023, two major earthquakes in Turkey affected 10 cities. We wanted to share our experience with the equipment that the first responders in the earthquake area should take with them, apart from medical supplies.The equipment required for patient care is as follows; stethoscope, trauma scissors, flashlight, and headlamp (for power outage situation), safety glasses, scrubs (spare), mask, medical gloves, regularly used drugs (such as decongestants, antibiotics, analgesics), battery, hospital ID, notepad, pen. Personal equipment that is not necessary for patient care is as follows; backpack (with name tag), power bank (to keep in touch), list of basic contact numbers, thermos (for tea and coffee), enough ready-made food to last at least three days (dry foods, energy, and protein bars, instant sachet soup, etc.), water bottle, fork, spoon, glass, garbage bag, whistle, work gloves, ear protection, sleeping bag and mat (tent if possible), personal hygiene items (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes, napkins).

Experiences of Food Pantry Stakeholders and Emergency Food Providers in Rural Minnesota Communities

ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe the experiences influencing food pantry stakeholders’ and emergency food providers’ ability to meet their shoppers’ needs. DesignWe conducted 5 focus groups. SettingFood pantries in Minnesota in late 2019 and early 2020. ParticipantsThe sample included 37 participants with various roles in the emergency food system. Phenomenon of InterestBarriers and challenges facing emergency food providers/stakeholders and practices and resources providers employ. AnalysisWe identified major themes using a thematic analysis approach. ResultsParticipants reported multiple barriers to accessing food pantries, that shopper demographics were changing, and shoppers needed nonfood support, such as personal hygiene items and mental health services. Food pantries required appropriate and sustainable food supplies, additional financial, labor, technical support, and physical infrastructure improvements. Participants described the benefits of their relationship with the University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension, explained how pantries offered healthier foods, highlighted innovative service delivery models, and stressed that their organization connected to many facets of their community. Conclusion and ImplicationsFood pantries serving rural areas reported meeting community needs by distributing food to their shoppers in an inclusive and health-promoting way but require additional support. These data support nutrition practitioners working to understand the local, place-based context and needs of emergency food providers while building wider and deeper connections between nutrition professionals and the emergency food system.

Exploring risk factors and transmission dynamics of Hepatitis B infection among Indian families: Implications and perspective

IntroductionHepatitis B virus (HBV) is global health problem. Family members of HBV infected people are considered as high-risk groups due to frequent household transmission of HBV among contacts of HBsAg carriers. The present study aimed to investigate the intrafamilial transmission of HBV among family members of HBV-infected persons and to identify the risk factors for viral transmission in these setting. Methods361 index cases and their 1083 family contacts were tested for markers of Hepatitis B, viz. HBsAg and HBcAb using commercial ELISA. The demographic details and risk factors for acquiring HBV infection among the family members were recorded using a structured questionnaire. ResultsThe median (IQR) age of index cases and family members was 37 (27 − 48) and 26 (14 − 38) years, respectively. Among the screened family members, 9.23% (n = 100) members were positive for HBsAg and 32.75% (n = 355) were positive for HBcAb. At least one member of the family was affected in 229/361 (63.43%) index cases. Significantly lower percent of household contacts (9.23%, n = 100)were vaccinated against HBV.HBV transmission risk was significantly higher in families with more than four members(p < 0.0001). Multinomial logistics regression analysis for familial risk factors for transmission of HBV such asclose contact with carrier (aOR overt: 1.172, aOR occult: 1.173), sharing of bed/bedding (aOR overt: 1.258, aOR occult:1.264), personal hygiene items (aOR overt:1.260, aOR occult: 1.451), and eating in common utensils (aOR overt: 2.182, aOR occult: 1.307)were significantly associated with the transmission of HBV (p < 0.05). DiscussionClose contact with carrier, sharing of bed/bedding or personal hygiene items and eating in common utensils were significantly associated with the transmission of HBV. Increasing awareness about Hepatitis B infection and vaccination of family members in close contact with carrier is essential to prevent Hepatitis B transmission.

Resource Management through Artificial Intelligence in Screening Programs-Key for the Successful Elimination of Hepatitis C.

Background: The elimination of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) will only be possible if rapid and efficient actions are taken. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are computing systems based on the topology of the biological brain, containing connected artificial neurons that can be tasked with solving medical problems. Aim: We expanded the previously presented HCV micro-elimination project started in September 2020 that aimed to identify HCV infection through coordinated screening in asymptomatic populations and developed two ANN models able to identify at-risk subjects selected through a targeted questionnaire. Material and method: Our study included 14,042 screened participants from a southwestern region of Oltenia, Romania. Each participant completed a 12-item questionnaire along with anti-HCV antibody rapid testing. Hepatitis-C-positive subjects were linked to care and ultimately could receive antiviral treatment if they had detectable viremia. We built two ANNs, trained and tested on the dataset derived from the questionnaires and then used to identify patients in a similar, already existing dataset. Results: We found 114 HCV-positive patients (81 females), resulting in an overall prevalence of 0.81%. We identified sharing personal hygiene items, receiving blood transfusions, having dental work or surgery and re-using hypodermic needles as significant risk factors. When used on an existing dataset of 15,140 persons (119 HCV cases), the first ANN models correctly identified 97 (81.51%) HCV-positive subjects through 13,401 tests, while the second ANN model identified 81 (68.06%) patients through only 5192 tests. Conclusions: The use of ANNs in selecting screening candidates may improve resource allocation and prioritize cases more prone to severe disease.

Fashion Vocabulary: Borrowing, Adapting and Rethinking

Fashion is a rather significant mechanism that organizes the life of any society and regulates the social behavior of people. It subordinates not only the choice of clothing, interior, personal hygiene items, gastronomic tastes, musical preferences, but also the way of thinking, the formation of criteria for assessing the phenomena of reality. At the same time, fashion is not only a powerful social regulator, but also a significant cultural phenomenon, the study of which is of particular importance nowadays. In this context, the vocabulary of fashion is interesting, as, on the one hand, it enriches the Russian language due to the abundant borrowing of foreign words, on the other hand, it indicates how actively the Russian language adapts new names for fashion items, and demonstrates how Russian mentality and culture accept this vocabulary. In order to consider the Russian vocabulary in the sphere of fashion in all three aspects, it is important to trace the derivation of the lexical meaning of the denotations of the fashion semantic field in their connection with the historical period and the change in the native speakers way of thinking in different historical times of the country. To this end, it is necessary to turn to the etymology of the basic elements of the Russian wardrobe, identify their coherence with the gender of their owners and trace how this coherence has been changing over time, as well as analyze the ways of grammatical adaptation of borrowed vocabulary in the Russian language, and finally, note the functional specifics of the same lexemes in Russian and other donor languages.

Evacuation of “Children of North”: an Attempt to Mitigate Social Problems during Civil War

On the basis of archival sources, the experience of the evacuation of socially disadvantaged children of Karelia to the Kharkov province in 1919—1920 is revealed, the life support system of the “state child” in the Giev colony is analyzed. The study of this specific method of providing social assistance to children, used in the extreme conditions of the Civil War, made it possible to reveal the complexity and riskiness of such activities. The central place in the article is devoted to the study of the food issue, the supply of uniforms and other problems of providing for the colonists. The organizational component of the process of evacuation and re-evacuation of children is characterized, changes in the material base of the colony are shown, problems in the implementation of educational work within the institution are identified. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of the medical and sanitary services for the inmates of the Giev colony with the definition of the sanitary and hygienic conditions of life in the institution, the availability of personal hygiene items for the children, as well as their examination by doctors. It is shown in the article that the supply of food and clothing for the inmates of the colony almost completely fell on the shoulders of its employees, who had to independently attract additional funding, improve the material living conditions of children, and look for the necessary resources for the development of subsidiary farming and workshops.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ ПОТРЕБЛЕНИЯ БЕЛЬЯ, ОДЕЖДЫ, СРЕДСТВ ЛИЧНОЙ ГИГИЕНЫ В ХОДЕ ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТОВ ПО ПРОЕКТУ SIRIUS

For the 17- and 120-day isolation campaigns within project SIRIUS, the stock of personal hygiene items (PHIs), underwear and clothes was supplied in compliance with the current ISS rates of consumption. Over 120 questionnaires filled by the human subjects made possible estimation of the total weight of these provisions in a mission to the Moon, and get feedback about the hygienic means and methods. The hygienic comfort of 6 crewmembers of the 120-d isolation campaign required more than 500 kg of underwear, bedclothes, towels, personal hygiene items, pieces of toilet and household essentials, which are also musts in a mission to the Moon and back. Long-duration missions and sojourns on lunar and Mars bases will call for designing arrangements for personal hygiene, shower, dish washing and laundry integrated with regenerative life support systems. Results of the investigation showed effectiveness of the sanitation and hygiene system and its functional significance.

Covid-19 and the Brazilian Reality: The Role of Favelas in Combating the Pandemic.

The consequences of coronavirus in favelas in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) point to social inequality as a structuring factor in Brazilian society. The contagion spread and multiple death cases reveal the multiplicity of existence ways that cohabit the urban context, indicating that in many of these scenarios, access to decent housing, drinking water, and minimum income is not a reality and recommendations from international health agencies are challenging to implement. Against government technopolitics that drive different forms of death to the poorest, black communities, and slum dwellers, territorial insurgencies indicate other paths for the construction of a dignified life and access to fundamental rights, targeted solidarity practices, territorial political organization and the construction of specific public policies to deal with the effects of the virus which takes into account the particularities and distinct realities of the territory. The experiences of community organization around Crisis Offices in the favelas, led by social organizations and supporting institutions, have guaranteed (i) food and personal hygiene items distribution, (ii) sanitization of alleys, (iii) dissemination of information on the virus, and (iv) political articulation for disputes in defense of life preservation in the favelas, in opposition of genocidal processes carried out by the state power. Such local spaces represent practices of resistance to the death policies undertaken by the state policies, which most are not configured as spaces for collective construction and disregard inequalities and different needs in these territories. That way, community associations are presented as an inflection point, a deviation from the normal course of modulated subjectivities by the social principles and practices of neoliberalism, with the indication that the most efficient way to deal with social crises is through the strengthening of the collective and the popular organizations.

Role of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the upgrading of personal hygiene. A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:To assess the role of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in improving personal hygiene in Saudi Arabia.Methods:We administered a questionnaire distributed online between 19 and 28 May 2020 to determine alterations in personal hygiene practices during this pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic phase.Results:We included 211 respondents from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in this study. Improvement at different levels was detected in all examined personal hygiene items compared to the pre-pandemic stage. The percentages of respondents who always washed their hands after coming back home (34.1%), used soap to wash their hands (58.8%), used a hand sanitizer outside (5.2%), wore a face masks while outside (1.4%) and washed their hands before preparing and/or eating food (74.9%) was increased before the pandemic to 89.6%, 90%, 63.5%, 59.2% and 89.1% during the pandemic, respectively. The percentage of respondents who never shake hands with people they know increased from 0% before the pandemic to 62.6% during the pandemic. The mean duration of washing hands with soap significantly increased from 13.31 seconds before the pandemic to 28.01 seconds during the pandemic (p<0.0001).Conclusion:The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a noticeable improvement in the personal hygiene habits in Saudi Arabia mainly those related to COVID-19 prevention.

An Expert Discussion on Autism in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

An Expert Discussion on Autism in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Prevention Strategies for Recurrent Community-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are a major source of morbidity. More than half of patients experiencing SSTI will have at least one recurrent infection. These infections frequently cluster in households. Given the burden these infections pose to patients and healthcare, prevention strategies are of major clinical importance and represent an active area of research. Bacterial colonization is frequently an early and critical step in the pathogenesis of infection. As such, strategies to prevent reinfection have aimed to decrease staphylococcal colonization of the skin and mucus membranes, a process referred to as decolonization. Treatment of acute SSTI with incision and drainage and systemic antibiotics is the mainstay of therapy for healing of the acute infection. Systemic antibiotics also provide benefit through reduced incidence of recurrent SSTI. Education for patients and families regarding optimization of personal and household hygiene measures, and avoidance of sharing personal hygiene items, is an essential component in prevention efforts. For patients experiencing recurrent SSTI, or in households in which multiple members have experienced SSTI, decolonization should be recommended for all household members. A recommended decolonization regimen includes application of intranasal mupirocin and antiseptic body washes with chlorhexidine or dilute bleach water baths. For patients who continue to experience recurrent SSTI, periodic decolonization should be considered. Personal decolonization with topical antimicrobials and antiseptics reduces the incidence of recurrent S. aureus SSTI. Future avenues for investigation include strategies for household environmental decontamination as well as manipulation of the host microbiota.

Examining customer perceptions of restaurant restroom cleanliness and their impact on satisfaction and intent to return

ABSTRACTCompetition in the Canadian restaurant industry is unyielding. Restaurant cleanliness is one of the most important aspects when a customer evaluates restaurant quality and return intention. In particular, restaurant restroom cleanliness (RRC) is often considered the central factor that leads to overall perception of cleanliness. This study examined how RRC affects restaurant customers. Restroom appearance had the greatest impact on cleanliness followed by personal hygiene items. In addition, RRC impacted customer satisfaction and did not vary based on customer segmentation. However, older restaurant patrons were more likely to report RRC issues than younger patrons. The research demonstrates that RRC is an essential element to the success and viability of a food service operation and is an important aspect of academic research in foodservice operations. Future directions for both industry and academic research in this area are discussed.

Plastic Pirates sample litter at rivers in Germany – Riverside litter and litter sources estimated by schoolchildren

Rivers are an important source of marine anthropogenic litter, but the particular origins of riverine litter itself have not been well established. Here we used a citizen science approach where schoolchildren examined litter at riversides and identified possible sources at over 250 sampling spots along large and small rivers in Germany, during autumn 2016 and spring 2017. Litter densities have an overall median of 0.14, interquartile range 0–0.57 items m−2 and an overall average (±standard deviation) of 0.54 ± 1.20 litter items m−2. Litter quantities differed only little by sampling year. The principal litter types found were plastics and cigarette butts (31% and 20%, respectively), followed by glass, paper, and metal items, indicating recreational visitors as the principal litter source. At many sites (85%), accumulations of litter, consisting principally of cigarettes and food packaging, have been found. At almost all sampling sites (89%), litter potentially hazardous to human health has been observed, including broken glass, sharp metal objects, used personal hygiene articles and items containing chemicals. In the search for litter sources, the schoolchildren identified mainly people who use the rivers as recreational areas (in contrast to residents living in the vicinity, illegal dumping, or the river itself depositing litter from upstream sources). These results indicate the urgent need for better education and policy measures in order to protect riparian environments and reduce input of riverine litter to the marine environment.

Health, Social, and Economic Outcomes Experienced by Families as a Result of Receiving Assistance from a Community-Based Diaper Bank.

Objectives This paper aims to describe low-income recipients of a community-based diaper bank and the multiple daily challenges they face. Our paper seeks to document the health, social, and financial outcomes recipients experienced after receiving assistance. Methods We surveyed families (n = 150) about their experiences receiving diapers from a diaper bank in the southeastern United States. Additionally, we conducted short, focused interviews with families (n = 15) about outcomes after receiving diapers. Results Families experience regularly a range of challenges meeting basic needs. These difficulties include high unmet needs for transportation, food, and nonfood essentials such as personal hygiene items. Families experiencing the greatest difficulty in paying utility or medical bills were significantly more likely to have a high level of diaper need compared to families facing these challenges less often (AORs ranging from 3.40 to 9.39). As a result of receiving diapers, families reported positive health, social, and economic outcomes. Families reported positive changes in parental mood; improved child health and happiness; increased opportunities for childcare, work, and school attendance; and the ability to divert household finances toward other basic needs, including utilities and medical care. Conclusions for Practice The monetary value of the supplemental provision of diapers is a small investment in affected families' economic, social, and health outcomes. The positive effects continue far longer than the diapers provided. We demonstrate the social value of such an operation, and recommend the expansion of federal, state, and local safety net programs to help low-income families secure a steady supply of diapers.