Utilization of modern menstrual methods and related unmet needs among college going women in Coimbatore district: a descriptive cross-sectional study

This descriptive cross-sectional study found that only 1.4% college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu used modern menstrual methods (menstrual cups and tampons). Sanitary pads were the most common menstrual hygiene method of choice (96.3%); of which majority (98.6%) used disposable pads and more than half (50.4%) used non-biodegradable pads. Importantly, one in six (16.5%) were not aware of nature of sanitary pads (biodegradable or nonbiodegradable) used. Nearly two third (62.8%) college women had unmet needs with current choice of menstrual hygiene methods. The unmet needs associated with modern menstrual methods were significantly lower than that for other menstrual hygiene methods (including sanitary pads), in particular, the unmet material and home environment needs, unmet material reliability concerns, unmet reuse needs and unmet reuse insecurity. However, we found no significant difference between MMMs, sanitary pads and other menstrual hygiene methods in terms of unmet transport, college environment, change and disposal insecurity needs. The significant predictors of use of modern menstrual methods were age (more than 21 years of age), residence (urban), type of stay (off campus including home, stay with relatives, hostels, as paying guests, and similar), socioeconomic status (upper), fathers’ and mothers’ education (high school and above), and source of personal income. Our results also showed that discussions with friends (or peers) both before and after menarche regarding menstruation resulted in higher adoption of modern menstrual methods. However, such an association was not found to be statistically significant for discussion with family members (mothers and/or sisters).

The adoption of modern menstrual methods, such as menstrual cups and tampons, was quite low, with only 1.4% of participants reporting their usage. This finding corroborates with existing literature evidence. The dominance of sanitary pads as the primary menstrual hygiene product is consistent with previous studies that have highlighted the popularity of pads among Indian women due to their ease of use, availability, and affordability [18, 19]. The National Family Health Survey – 5 (NFHS-5, 2019-21) documented that the percent distribution of women 15 to 24 years of age who have ever menstruated to be 0.3% for menstrual cups and 1.7% for tampons. In a recent cross-sectional study reported from Gujarat, 2.27% college students used menstrual cups (0.70%) and tampons (1.57%); whereas use of sanitary pads was the most common (96.06%) [20]. van Eijk AM et al. (2016) conducted a systematic review to summarize the status of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among adolescent girls in India. The study found that only two studies reported use of tampons (one from urban Tamil Nadu and the other from urban Karnataka) and none reported menstrual cups [21]. Insertable menstrual products such as menstrual cups and tampons are rarely used, although there are local manufacturers. Modern menstrual methods may face cultural barriers and misconceptions (including concerns about virginity, insertion of foreign objects into the body, societal expectations to conform to traditional practices, stigma attached to menstruation and menstrual blood or menstruating women considered impure limits MHM related discussion) [22], making them less popular choices in this region. To add to this, lack of awareness, easy accessibility, availability (including availability of appropriate size), affordability, and supportive environment (including physical, social environment and support system for guidance) are the barriers to adoption of modern menstrual methods. Multiple studies described user familiarisation with the menstrual cup over time (learning curve of 2–5 months), with practice, peer support, and training being key to success [23‐25].

Menstrual cups minimises the economic burden (given that one cup can last up to 10 years) and menstrual waste compared to the use of sanitary pads; [26] they were safe, convenient (1.4 DALYs averted, 95% CI -4.3 to 3.1), and acceptable for girls and/or women in studies reported from Nepal [27], Kenya [25, 28], Canada [29], South Africa [30], , and India [31]. Similar findings have been reported from other low- and middle-income countries including Africa [32, 33]. Though Oster E et al. reported that menstrual cups have the benefit of being easy to clean requiring less water [27], literature specifies the need for adequate water supply along with clean washroom facility (essential and not desirable) for menstrual cup use. The motivation to use menstrual cups is ingrained with the detrimental experiences of using sanitary pad (such as developing rashes, bad odour, discomfort, and disposal) [34].

The magnitude of unmet needs signify the gap in meeting menstrual health requirements of young women in the region warranting attention. Comparatively, MMMs were associated with lesser unmet needs. Literature refers to MMMs as better menstrual hygiene solutions [35] than can hold more menstrual fluid, reducing the frequency of changes (can hold 10 to 38 mL of blood; should be emptied every 4 to 12 h, depending on menstrual flow and type of cup) and offering increased convenience and freedom of movement [30, 36]. The lower level of unmet needs in MMMs, particularly regarding material reliability, reuse concerns, and home environment needs, highlights their potential to address some of the challenges faced by traditional methods like sanitary pads. The reusable nature of menstrual cups makes them cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Babagoli MS et al. estimated the costs of menstrual cups to be $3,270 per year for 1000 girls, compared with $24,000 for sanitary pads. The menstrual cup intervention was cost-effective in improving health outcomes ($2,300/DALY averted) [37].

It is important to note that modern menstrual methods may not completely eliminate all unmet needs. For example, we observed no significant difference between MMMs, sanitary pads, and other menstrual hygiene methods in terms of unmet transport, college environment, change, and disposal insecurity needs. These aspects can be influenced by factors such as access to clean and private restroom facilities (proper sanitation facilities) at colleges (or other educational institutions and public places), availability of menstrual products at educational institutions, availability of disposal options, and cultural perceptions of menstruation [36, 38]. Briefly, modern menstrual methods, menstrual cups (made of medical-grade silicone, rubber, latex, or elastomer) in particular, provided better material reliability, and reuse security [39]. However, it was associated with lesser unmet needs only in home environment and none of the menstrual hygiene methods performed better in external environment (transport or place of education). Addressing these broader contextual issues is crucial to ensuring comprehensive menstrual hygiene management.

The high prevalence of unmet needs with traditional menstrual hygiene methods, especially sanitary pads, could be attributed to various factors. Firstly, the adverse effects (including rashes, reproductive tract infection, vaginal infections, cervical cancer, urinary tract infection, hepatitis B, and different types of yeast infections) associated with use of sanitary pads may impact the quality of life of women [7, 13]. Secondly, the cost constraints might limit the accessibility of high-quality disposable pads for some individuals [40]. Additionally, concerns about the environmental impact of disposable pads may lead to insecurities about their usage and disposal [41]. A recent estimate showed that one billion pads per month (or 12 billion pads per year) are used and being disposed of in India – 33.0% buried, 28.0% along with routine waste, 28.0% in open, and 28% burnt in open. Use of superabsorbent polymers, nonbiodegradable plastic, glue etc. does not allow decomposition of disposed pads for a minimum of 500 to 800 years. Additionally, it causes long term deterioration of water and soil quality. Blood soiled menstrual absorbents are best culture medium for disease causing pathogens as well [8].

Similar to the findings of this study, in many societies, the menstrual practices may evolve with age, influenced by factors such as cultural norms, peer influence, education, access to information, and financial independence. Increased awareness through educational institutions (including environmental awareness), internet access, and peer discussions (including positive testimonials) may positively influence the adoption of menstrual cups and tampons among older college-going women [42]. Financial autonomy may enable them to explore and afford modern menstrual products that can be relatively more expensive upfront but offer long-term cost benefits. In contrast, younger girls might depend on their parents or guardians for menstrual products, limiting their choices to more affordable options like traditional pads. Comfort and familiarity with one’s body play an important role in adopting different menstrual methods. Younger girls might be more hesitant to try something new and may prefer sticking to the menstrual hygiene practices they (or the immediate family) are already accustomed to. As girls grow older, they might develop a deeper understanding of their bodies and become more open to exploring alternative menstrual products.

Urban residence typically offers greater access to information, products (attributable to distribution networks (including online shopping) and market availability), healthcare services (facilities and specialists), and a supportive home environment, all of which can influence the uptake of modern menstrual methods. Similar to the type of residence, socioeconomic status and parents’ education can influence various factors, such as awareness, affordability, cultural beliefs, and access to information, all of which may shape individual preferences for menstrual hygiene products. Individuals from higher SES backgrounds or with educated parents may have better exposure to health-related knowledge, including information on menstrual hygiene products [43]. The higher upfront (or capital) costs of menstrual cups (and the availability of alternate methods with relatively low capital costs) can create disparities in the adoption of modern menstrual methods based on economic status [7, 37]. Families with higher education levels may be more open to discussing menstruation openly and may be less influenced by traditional taboos; and may be proactive in seeking information from healthcare providers, leading to better-informed decisions (improved health seeking behaviour). In contrast, families with lower education levels might adhere more strictly to traditional practices and may be hesitant to consider or try modern menstrual methods. Ultimately, efforts to promote menstrual hygiene and MMMs should be tailored to address the specific needs and challenges faced by individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds, with a focus on promoting equitable access to safe menstrual health products and education.

The present study highlights the importance of peer influence and social networks in shaping menstrual hygiene practices, particularly when it comes to adopting modern menstrual methods like menstrual cups and tampons. The influence of friends and peers on adolescent behaviours and decisions is well-documented [44]. In the context of menstrual hygiene, discussions with friends before and after menarche can play a crucial role in normalizing the use of modern menstrual methods. As young girls begin to menstruate and navigate their menstrual experiences, the support and experiences shared by friends can influence their attitudes towards and acceptance of modern menstrual products. Conversely, the statistical insignificance shown by discussions with family members, such as mothers and sisters, could be attributed to cultural taboos and discomfort around discussing menstruation within families. In some communities, particularly in LMICs, menstruation remains a sensitive and private topic, making it less likely for girls to openly discuss alternative menstrual products with their family members.

The present study is not without limitations. Firstly, the present study quantified the unmet needs associated with menstrual hygiene methods. Though a validated questionnaire that assessed multiple dimensions (MPNS-36) was used to capture unmet needs, an additional qualitative method (either in-depth interviews or focus group discussions) would have been useful. Secondly, we could establish association and not causation between menstrual hygiene method and unmet needs. However, we adjusted the results for possible predictors of choice of menstrual hygiene methods, so that the unmet needs could be attributed to the method itself.

To conclude, the adoption of modern menstrual methods, such as menstrual cups and tampons, was quite low in the present study. The study also highlights an alarming lack of awareness regarding the biodegradability of sanitary pads, potentially contributing to environmental concerns associated with menstrual waste management. Unmet needs related to menstrual hygiene were prevalent among a substantial proportion of college girls and women, particularly in terms of current menstrual hygiene choices. MMMs provided comparative advantage with lesser unmet needs for material reliability and reuse insecurity concerns, particularly in home environment. However, none of the menstrual hygiene methods fulfilled the user expectations for transport and disposal insecurity concerns, particularly outdoors. The uptake of MMMs is much higher with peer discussions. Policymakers, educators, and healthcare providers should collaborate to create a supportive environment that encourages open discussions about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Empowering women with accurate information and access to a variety of menstrual products can play a crucial role in improving overall menstrual health and well-being in the Coimbatore district and beyond.