Parental education, embarrassment, and sanitation facilities influence menstrual product choices among female nursing students in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Understanding the factors that shape menstrual product choices is crucial for improving menstrual health and hygiene practices among young women in low-resource settings. This study investigates the influence of parental education, embarrassment, and sanitation facilities on the choice between hygienic menstrual products, like single-use pads, and unhygienic options, such as old clothes. A structured questionnaire was used to interview 366 nursing students in Bangladesh, with an average age of 23.3 ± 4.3 years. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test, and multivariable logistic regression were performed using JMP Pro 17. The major products were single-use pads (61%) and old clothes (32%). Participants' family was the primary source of menstrual information, and product choices were influenced by both fathers' (p < 0.05) and mothers' (p < 0.05) education level. Additionally, the participants reported negative perceptions of the sanitation facilities, citing issues such as a lack of privacy, cleanliness, and the availability of water and soap. Embarrassment about buying (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.86 [1.16–7.07]) and privacy of bathroom facilities (AOR: 2.92 [1.12–7.63]) increased the odds of old clothes, while fear of staining blood (AOR: 2.95 [1.53–5.68]) increased the odds of having single-use pads. Better menstrual health and hygiene practices require improved parental education, reduced embarrassment, and better sanitation facilities.