Sustainable menstruation and menstrual cups: Study on awareness and intention to use in the state of Kerala
Vol 9, Issue 8, 2024, Article identifier:
VIEWS - 162 (Abstract) 56 (PDF)
Abstract
Sustainable menstruation promotes health, social well-being, and minimizes negative environmental impacts. As opposed to single-use tampons and pads, which absorb blood, the menstrual cup collects menstrual blood and can last for up to ten years. The present study attempted to understand the awareness level about sustainable menstruation and menstrual cups, intention to use menstrual cup, and factors inhibiting as well as facilitating the use of menstrual cups among young women. Data was collected through a survey of 1937 menstruating college students in Kerala. The study indicated a high level of awareness about cloth pads and menstrual cups among college students. Though the use of menstrual cups was found to be low, the intention to use menstrual cups was reported to be above average. The major factor for not using menstrual cups was related to fear of vaginal insertion and the major facilitating factor was found to be convenience. The study results will provide insights into designing focused awareness sessions to mitigate the reasons for not using menstrual cups.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
1. Peter, A., & Abhitha, K. (2021). Menstrual Cup: A replacement to sanitary pads for a plastic free periods. Materials Today: Proceedings, 47, 5199-5202.
2. Johansson, L., & Hellström, H. (2018). Is the menstrual cup filled with capabilities?: A qualitative case study of a menstrual hygiene program in the North West province of South Africa with focus on female students.
3. Van Eijk, A. M., Zulaika, G., Lenchner, M., Mason, L., Sivakami, M., Nyothach, E., ... & Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2019). Menstrual cup use, leakage, acceptability, safety, and availability: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The lancet public health, 4(8), e376-e393.
4. Transnet Teenage Health Program (2016) Giving girls the dignity they deserve. Transnet Foundation. Electronic. Available: http://moropadevelopment.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Transnet-Teenage-HealthProgramme.pdf
5. MAGGA & UNFPA (2020).Evidence on knowledge and use of menstrual cups in Malawi.
6. Chikulo, B. C. (2015). An exploratory study into menstrual hygiene management amongst rural high school for girls in the North West Province, South Africa. African Population Studies, 29(2).
7. Dasgupta, A., & Sarkar, M. (2008). Menstrual hygiene: how hygienic is the adolescent girl?. Indian journal of community medicine: official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 33(2), 77.
8. Devnarain, B., & Matthias, C. R. (2011). Poor access to water and sanitation: Consequences for girls at a rural school. Agenda, 25(2), 27-34.
9. Wilson, E., Reeve, J., & Pitt, A. (2014). Education. Period. Developing an acceptable and replicable menstrual hygiene intervention. Development in Practice, 24(1), 63-80.
10. Pednekar, S., Some, S., Rivankar, K., & Thakore, R. (2022). Enabling factors for sustainable menstrual hygiene management practices: a rapid review. Discover Sustainability, 3(1), 28.
11. Sinha, R. N., & Paul, B. (2018). Menstrual hygiene management in India: The concerns. Indian journal of public health, 62(2), 71-74.
12. Varghese, S. D., Hemachandran, K. S., & Parvathy, J. (2023). Impact of imparting knowledge and awareness on the usage of menstrual cups: A study based on project ‘Thinkal’at Alappuzha Municipality in Kerala. Public Health in Practice, 5, 100352.
13. Times of India (2020). https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/muhamma-declared-as-first-synthetic-sanitary-pad-free-village-in-kerala/articleshow/79086158.cms
14. The Hindu (2023). https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/budget-allocation-for-menstrual-cups-a-recognition-of-muhamma-model/article66511977.ece
15. Kumari, S., & Muneshwar, K. N. (2023). A Review on Initiatives for Promoting Better Menstrual Hygiene Practices and Management in India. Cureus, 15(10).
16. Kakani, C. R., & Bhatt, J. K. (2017). Study of adaptability and efficacy of menstrual cup in managing menstrual health and hygiene. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol, 6(7), 3045-3053.
17. Huang, P. T., & Huang, J. H. (2020). Menstrual cup use intention and the moderating effects of sexual orientation and gender characteristic among female university students in Taiwan: a theory-driven exploration. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49, 1355-1366.
18. Bongaarts, J. O. H. N., & Potter, R. (1978). Fertility. Population and Development Review, 4(1), 105-132.
19. Ueffing, P., Dasgupta, A. N., & Kantorová, V. (2020). Sexual activity by marital status and age: a comparative perspective. Journal of Biosocial Science, 52(6), 860-884
20. Khorgade, G. & Iyengar,S. (2023). Why India Needs to Move Beyond Disposable Sanitary Pads. Action Research and Training for Health, Udaipur.
21. Beksinska, M., Nkosi, P., Zulu, B., & Smit, J. (2021). Acceptability of the menstrual cup among students in further education institutions in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 26(1), 11-16.
22. Pokhrel, D., Bhattarai, S., Emgård, M., Von Schickfus, M., Forsberg, B. C., & Biermann, O. (2021). Acceptability and feasibility of using vaginal menstrual cups among schoolgirls in rural Nepal: a qualitative pilot study. Reproductive health, 18(1), 1-10.
23. Abraham, R., Rajan, M. P., & John, A. (2023). Knowledge, Acceptability and Misconceptions Regarding Menstrual Cup among College Students of Kerala: A Cross-Sectional Study. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 14(2), 399-406.
24. Owen, L. (2022). Stigma, sustainability, and capitals: A case study on the menstrual cup. Gender, Work & Organization, 29(4), 1095-1112.
25. Patel, K., Dwivedy, S., Panda, N., Swain, S., Pati, S., & Palo, S. K. (2023). Is menstrual cup a sustainable and safe alternative in menstrual hygiene management? A qualitative exploratory study based on user's experience in India. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 20, 101212.
26. Sundqvist, J. (2015). A cup of freedom?: A study of the menstrual cup's impact on girls' capabilities.
27. Hyttel, M., Thomsen, C. F., Luff, B., Storrusten, H., Nyakato, V. N., & Tellier, M. (2017). Drivers and challenges to use of menstrual cups among schoolgirls in rural Uganda: a qualitative study. Waterlines, 109-124.
28. Gölbaşı Koç, S. D., Yücel, E., Sungur, S., Metintaş, S., & Önsüz, M. F. (2023). Use of menstrual cup and awareness of environmental effects of menstrual hygiene products. Local Environment, 28(6), 784-792.
29. Lamont, J. M., Wagner, K. M., & Incorvati, C. G. (2019). The relationship of self-objectification and body shame to attitudes toward and willingness to use reusable menstrual products. Women's Reproductive Health, 6(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2018.1556428
30. Sreedevi, C., Jayasree, A. K., Shilu, M. Z., Divyamol, N., & Deepak, K. S. (2022). Experience and adaptability of menstrual cup as a menstrual hygiene management method among its users in Kerala. Int J Community Med Public Health, 2, 918-923.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v9i8.2743
(162 Abstract Views, 56 PDF Downloads)
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2024 Devi Soumyaja
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.