Understanding Women's Views on Menstrual Hygiene Methods in India
Author Information
Author(s): Aparnavi P., Ramanathan Rashmi, Shanmugam Jeevithan, Narayanan Seetharaman, Kumar Mohan, Ramya V., Rathinamoorthy Ramesh, Vignesh Sakthivel
Primary Institution: KMCH Institute of Health Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, India
Hypothesis
What are women's perceptions of modern menstrual hygiene methods in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu?
Conclusion
Increasing access to modern menstrual hygiene products and education could improve acceptance and feasibility for marginalized women.
Supporting Evidence
- 88.3% of participants used sanitary pads as their primary menstrual hygiene method.
- Only 1.6% had tried modern menstrual methods like tampons or menstrual cups.
- Over half of the participants expressed a need for alternative menstrual hygiene methods.
- Social media and educational institutions significantly influenced menstrual hygiene choices.
- Concerns about comfort and accessibility were common among participants regarding current methods.
Takeaway
This study looked at how women in India feel about different menstrual products, showing that many prefer pads but want better options.
Methodology
Qualitative study using Focus Group Discussions among women aged 15-49 in Coimbatore.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on self-reported data and limited subgroup representation.
Limitations
Only one focus group was conducted for some vulnerable populations, which may not fully represent their views.
Participant Demographics
Participants included women from various socio-demographic backgrounds, including urban, rural, tribal, and special groups like transgender women and female sex workers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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