Perceptions Regarding Menstrual Cups among Medical Students of Tertiary Care Hospitals

Abstract

Abstract Background: Menstruation is a normal body function and a sign of reproductive health. Today, there is a lot of discussion about menstrual hygiene and its management, which is important for the well-being of women everywhere. Due to traditional beliefs, a lack of awareness and information about ideal sanitary practices, and restricted availability of suitable and cheap menstrual hygiene products, managing menstruation hygiene can be difficult in low-income settings and among school-aged girls. The vaginal menstruation cup is an alternative to sanitary pads or tampons for managing menstrual hygiene. Aims: The aim the study is to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice on menstrual cups among medical students of tertiary medical college. Methodology: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 247 medical students of JSS Medical College, JSS AHER, Mysuru. Data were collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included sociodemographic profile and questions regarding students’ knowledge, perception, and menstrual cup usage. Data were entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet, and scoring was done and analyzed into descriptive statistics like percentages. Results: Out of 247 students, 98% were aware of menstrual cups and 118 (47.7%) had good knowledge of menstrual cups, 105 (42.5%) had a positive attitude regarding the usage of cups, and 16 (6.4%) practiced using menstrual cups. 59.9% of students reported media as their source of information. Conclusion: The study concludes that even though 98% were aware of menstrual cups, <50% have good knowledge, positive attitude, and practice. Limited knowledge and misconception regarding the menstrual cup should be addressed for better menstrual health and practice.