Bindal Priya, Goyal Lajya Devi, Garg Priyanka
All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bathinda (Punjab), Bathinda, India.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bathinda (Punjab), Bathinda, India.
Korean J Fam Med. 2025 Jan 3. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.24.0083.
Menstrual hygiene is crucial to a woman's physical, social, and mental well-being. The menstrual cup offers a safe and effective solution but still requires wider adoption. This study aims to assess awareness, practices, and barriers regarding the use of menstrual cups among women of reproductive age.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 participants, randomly selected from outpatient settings of a tertiary care hospital in 2022. Non-pregnant menstruating women were included, while those with pelvic infections or cognitive impairments were excluded. After explaining the study's purpose and ensuring anonymity, data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from previous studies conducted in India and abroad. Knowledge and practices were depicted using descriptive statistics, while factors affecting awareness were analyzed using a multivariable binary logistic regression analysis approach.
Approximately 64.2% of participants were aware of menstrual cups, but only three were users. Participants living in urban areas, practicing Hinduism, and marrying after the age of 20 years showed higher awareness. Users rated the cup as comfortable, with no skin irritation, foul odor, or dryness. The primary barrier to use was insufficient knowledge.
There is a gap in awareness and usage of menstrual cups, especially in low- and middle-income countries like India. Preliminary feedback from users is encouraging, suggesting that menstrual cups could offer a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable way to improve menstrual hygiene.
经期卫生对女性的身体、社交和心理健康至关重要。月经杯提供了一种安全有效的解决方案，但仍需要更广泛地采用。本研究旨在评估育龄女性对月经杯使用的认知、实践情况及障碍。
2022年从一家三级护理医院的门诊环境中随机选取246名参与者进行横断面研究。纳入非妊娠经期女性，排除患有盆腔感染或认知障碍者。在解释研究目的并确保匿名后，使用从印度和国外先前研究改编的结构化问卷收集数据。知识和实践情况用描述性统计呈现，而影响认知的因素则采用多变量二元逻辑回归分析方法进行分析。
约64.2%的参与者知晓月经杯，但只有三人是使用者。居住在城市地区、信奉印度教且20岁以后结婚的参与者认知度较高。使用者认为月经杯舒适，无皮肤刺激、异味或干燥问题。使用的主要障碍是知识不足。
月经杯的认知和使用存在差距，尤其是在印度等低收入和中等收入国家。使用者的初步反馈令人鼓舞，表明月经杯可能提供一种经济高效、环保且可持续的改善经期卫生的方式。
