# Knowledge, attitudes, and support of women's menstrual experiences: A cross-sectional survey of men in Kampala, Uganda

## TL;DR

This study explores how men in Kampala, Uganda perceive and support women's menstrual experiences, finding that living with a menstruating person and supportive norms are linked to greater willingness to help.

## Contribution

The study is one of the few to examine adult men's perceptions and support of menstruation in Uganda, highlighting the role of household norms and knowledge gaps.

## Key findings

- Men who live with a menstruator are more likely to view discussing menstruation as acceptable.
- Supportive norms are directly linked to men's willingness to discuss menstruation with women.
- Men often lack knowledge about women's menstrual practices, such as materials and disposal.

## Abstract

Menstruation has received growing attention in public health research, particularly among adolescents in schools. However, fewer studies have engaged adult men. This secondary analysis (1) assessed alignment between men's perceptions of women's menstruation practices and women's actual practices; 2) examined associations between men's demographic characteristics and their perception of menstruation-related communication norms, and 3) assessed if men's perceptions of these norms are associated with their support of menstruating women or girls in their household.

Cross-sectional data were collected via household survey from men (n = 344) and women (n = 297) in Kampala, Uganda in 2022. Outcomes were two norms questions on the appropriateness of discussing menstruation in public and in front of men. We used a combination of Poisson and Firth's regressions. Presence of a menstruator in the household was positively associated with men's perception that it is acceptable to discuss menstruation in front of men (PR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.76; p < 0.01) or in public (PR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.46; p < 0.01). Supportive norms were associated with supportive behaviors; men who agreed that women may discuss menstruation in public and in front of men were more likely to report a willingness to talk to women about menstruation-related problems (PR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.22; p < 0.001). Our findings support the need for norms change to reduce stigma around discussing menstruation. Programs aiming to improve menstrual health should consider men's knowledge of menstruation, their role in the household environment around menstruation, and how norms may contribute to how they support menstruators in their households.

•Men should be engaged in menstruation education and programming.•Men lack knowledge of women's menstrual practices, such as materials and disposal.•Men report more supportive norms around discussing menstruation than women.•Living with a menstruator is linked to perception of supportive norms among men.•Reporting supportive norms is directly linked to providing support for menstruators.

Men should be engaged in menstruation education and programming.

Men lack knowledge of women's menstrual practices, such as materials and disposal.

Men report more supportive norms around discussing menstruation than women.

Living with a menstruator is linked to perception of supportive norms among men.

Reporting supportive norms is directly linked to providing support for menstruators.