Preference of Menstrual Hygiene Products and Their Usage Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chengalpattu District

Abstract

BACKGROUND  In India, millions of women still face significant barriers to safe menstrual hygiene management. This study focuses on medical students to assess their preferences for various menstrual hygiene products. METHODOLOGY  This cross-sectional study was conducted at a private medical college and hospital in Chengalpattu district among undergraduate medical students and postgraduates. The estimated sample size was 348, and data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were entered into Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24 (Released 2016; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). RESULTS  The mean age at menarche among study participants was 13 years (SD ±1.37), with the range spanning from 9 to 13 years. Of the 351 participants, 94 (26.8%) reported irregular cycles, while the remainder had regular menstrual cycles. Among the participants, 93.7% used sanitary pads, 3.4% used menstrual cups, and 1.4% used tampons or reusable pads. CONCLUSION  Ensuring access to clean washroom facilities reserved for staff and scheduling breaks for menstrual hygiene needs can help maintain proper menstrual hygiene. Promoting awareness about menstrual cups is crucial to encourage their adoption and to empower individuals with a sustainable and effective menstrual hygiene option.