Use of menstrual cups among school girls: longitudinal observations nested in a randomised controlled feasibility study in rural western Kenya

Eijk, Anna Maria van; Laserson, Kayla F.; Nyothach, Elizabeth; Oruko, Kelvin; Omoto, Jackton; Mason, Linda; Alexander, Kelly; Oduor, Clifford; Mohammed, Aisha; Eleveld, Alie; Ngere, Isaac; Obor, David; Vulule, John; Phillips-Howard, Penelope A.

doi:10.1186/s12978-018-0582-8

Cited by 42 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…A recent systematic review of experiences of menstruation in LMICs highlighted the relationship between sociocultural context, resources and economic environment in impacting the lives of women and girls [2]. Poor MHH can result from inadequate education and knowledge of puberty and menstruation and from inadequate access to high-quality menstrual materials, clean water, disposal facilities and privacy for safe and effective personal hygiene [1,3,4]. Effective MHH interventions may lead to sustained benefits for education [5], health, productivity [1,6] and the environment [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the effectiveness of a comprehensive menstrual health intervention program in Ugandan schools (MENISCUS): process evaluation of a pilot intervention study

Nalugya

Tanton

Hytti

et al. 2020

Pilot Feasibility Stud

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Background: Poor menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is a globally recognised public health challenge. A pilot study of an MHH intervention was conducted in two secondary schools in Entebbe, Uganda, over 9 months. The intervention included five components delivered by the implementing partner (WoMena Uganda) and the research team: (i) training teachers to implement government guidelines for puberty education, (ii) a drama skit to reduce stigma about menstruation, (iii) training in use of a menstrual kit (including re-usable pads), (iv) guidance on pain relief methods including provision of analgesics and (v) improvements to school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. The aim of the process evaluation was to examine implementation, context and possible causal pathways. Methods: We collected information on fidelity, dose, reach, acceptability, context and mechanisms of impact using (i) quantitative survey data collected from female and male students in year 2 of secondary school (ages 13-21; 450 at the baseline and 369 at endline); (ii) qualitative data from 40 in-depth interviews with parents, teachers and female students, and four focus group discussions with students, stratified by gender; (iii) data from unannounced visits checking on WASH facilities throughout the study; and (iv) routine data collected as part of the implementation. Quantitative data were used primarily to assess fidelity, dose and reach. Qualitative data were used primarily to assess acceptability, context and possible mechanisms.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the effectiveness of a comprehensive menstrual health intervention program in Ugandan schools (MENISCUS): process evaluation of a pilot intervention study

Nalugya

Tanton

Hytti

et al. 2020

Pilot Feasibility Stud

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“…Similar results were found through severe post-market surveillance of the device in over 100 million users 4 . In this large follow-up, they evaluated pH and vaginal microbiota, urine examination, cervical oncotic colpocytology and colposcopy in women who used the menstrual collectors for three months, and no adverse effects were proven 7 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The disposable collectors, on the other hand, have been gaining ground in the "menstrual products" market due to the practicality they offer, and mainly because it gives women complete freedom during their menstrual period 7 . Moreover, this device allows you to have sex and exercise in a comfortable and practically imperceptible way 8 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the safety and comfort of menstrual cup during sport: A prospective cohort study.

Araújo¹,

Chimello²,

Brigido³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Objectives: to evaluate the the acceptability of menstrual cup during sport. Design: prospective cohort study. Setting: São Paulo, Brazil. Participants: a total of 49 female handball players with a mean age of 22 ± 2 years. Intervention: participants were inveted to use Softcup® disposable menstrual during three menstrual cycles. Main outcome measures: Overall satisfaction; secondary outcomes included ease of insertion and removal of the device, pain, discomfort in sexual intercourse, blood leakage and / or loss of the menstrual cup during sport.Results: The degree of overall satisfaction during sport was high (82%). The insertion and removal of the menstrual cup was considered easy by most users, and the degree of satisfaction increased in subsequent cycles. The complaint of menstrual flow leakage during sport occurred in 63.3% of the athletes in the first cycle and fell to 42.9% in the last cycle (p> 0.05). There was loss of the device during exercise in 36.7% of the athletes in the first cycle, 30.6% in the second and 26.5% in the third cycle (p> 0.05). Of the athletes who had sexual intercourse with the collector, 90.9% of them had no discomfort. Conclusion: although the leakage and loss of the device may occur during the sport, the acceptability of the menstrual cup was high among the female athletes.

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“…We have evidence that cup colour change due to exposure to vaginal fluids was slower to change over time in comparison to the usage reported by the girls themselves. 45 This implies that a portion of participants self-reported using the cup, while in practice use may have been minimal. However, as all reports within this paper were self-reported, including use of pads where no change in colour could be examined, we believe the information offers useful comparative insights into perceived use and factors reported to be associated with this.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing use and acceptability of menstrual cups and sanitary pads by schoolgirls in rural Western Kenya

Mason

Nyothach

Eijk

et al. 2019

Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol

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distress because of their monthly menses. [1][2][3][4][5] Contributing factors include lack of underwear, use of absorbent products or materials which chafe or leak, inadequate facilities to wash and change in privacy and with dignity, cultural mores that restrict daily activity and promote ABSTRACT Background: Girls in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) lack access to hygienic and affordable menstrual products. We explore Kenyan schoolgirls' use and views of the cup compared to girls provided with disposable sanitary pads for a feasibility study. Methods: Schoolgirls aged 14-16 years, received a menstrual cup in 10 schools or 16 pads/month in another10 schools. All were trained by nurses on puberty, hand washing, and product use. They self-completed a net book survey at baseline and twice a term during a year follow-up. We examined their reported ease of insertion and removal, also comfort, soreness, and pain with product use. An aggregate 'acceptability' score was compiled for each product and girls' socio-demographic and menstrual characteristics were compared. Results: 195 participants received cups and 255 pads. Mean age was 14.6 years, menarchial age was 13.6 years, with an average 3.8 days menses per month. Cup use was 39% in month 1, rising to 80% by month 12 (linear trend p<0.001). Pad use rose from 85% to 92% (linear trend p=0.15). Measures of cup acceptability demonstrated girls had initial problems using the cup but reported difficulties with insertion, removal and comfort reduced over time. Girls using pads reported fewer acceptability issues. At baseline, approximately a quarter of girls in the pad arm reported inserting pads intravaginally although this was significantly lower among girls with prior experience of pad use (aRR 0.62; 0.45-0.87). Conclusions: While a smaller proportion of girls provided with cups used them in the first months compared to girls given pads, reported use was similar by study-end, and early acceptability issues reduced over time. Girls in LMIC may successfully and comfortably use cups, but require instruction, support and some persistence.

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Use of menstrual cups among school girls: longitudinal observations nested in a randomised controlled feasibility study in rural western Kenya

Cited by 42 publications

References 35 publications

Assessing the effectiveness of a comprehensive menstrual health intervention program in Ugandan schools (MENISCUS): process evaluation of a pilot intervention study

Assessing the effectiveness of a comprehensive menstrual health intervention program in Ugandan schools (MENISCUS): process evaluation of a pilot intervention study

Evaluation of the safety and comfort of menstrual cup during sport: A prospective cohort study.

Comparing use and acceptability of menstrual cups and sanitary pads by schoolgirls in rural Western Kenya

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