Understanding Urban Bangladeshi Women's Perspectives on Menstruation and Menstrual Products: A Cross-Sectional Survey

TL;DR

This study explores how urban Bangladeshi women view menstruation and menstrual products, finding that income and education strongly influence their experiences and choices.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into menstrual health knowledge and practices among urban Bangladeshi women, emphasizing the role of income and education.

Findings

Income significantly influences the choice of menstrual products among participants.

Participants who received menstrual counseling reported more symptoms like rash and itching.

Male participants scored lower on menstrual knowledge, suggesting a need for inclusive education.

Abstract

Background: Menstrual health is vital for women and girls, but it is often overlooked in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding menstruation and menstrual products among urban women in Bangladesh.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to assess the experience and opinions of women aged 17-45 years. Data were collected via Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA) and in-person interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential (chi-square) analyses were performed using Stata version 16 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX).

Results: Among 337 participants, 75.4% were aged 20-30 years, and 65.9% were students. Most participants (82.2%) had at least a bachelor’s education, and 74.5% had a monthly income <20,000 Bangladeshi Taka. There was a strong association between income and choice of menstrual product (p < 0.00001). A significantly higher proportion of participants who had received menstrual counseling reported rash and/or itching during menstruation (p = 0.019). Male participants scored significantly lower on menstrual knowledge (p = 0.005), highlighting the need for inclusive awareness and education.

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for targeted educational initiatives and policies to enhance menstrual health literacy and ensure access to menstrual products in Bangladesh.