Menstrual hygiene product preferences among university graduate women: influencing factors and knowledge levels

Menstruation, as a natural physiological process, intersects with health, human rights, and environmental concerns, making its management a critical issue influenced by cultural, social, and systemic factors. This study aims to determine the hygiene product preferences of university graduate women, the individual factors (such as personal habits and preferences) and systemic factors (such as availability, marketing, and cultural norms) influencing their product choices, as well as their level of product knowledge. This study was conducted between April and May 2021 and included 3301 menstruating individuals aged 18-49 years using menstrual hygiene products. Data analysis was performed using Spearman's correlation test and the Chi-square test. The mean age of participants was 26.7 ± 6.4 years. Of the menstrual hygiene products used, 93.8% of participants reported using single-use pads, 21.8% reported using tampons, and 2.5% reported using menstrual cloth. Among the participants, 88.1% reported using single-use products, 4.1% reported using reusable products, and 7.8% reported using both types of products. A positive correlation was identified between the usage of and knowledge about each type of menstrual hygiene product. Among the users of reusable products, the answer of 'environmental effect' as the most effective factor influencing the preferences was found to be more frequent when compared to the single-use product users and those using the products in both groups (p < 0.001). It was observed that women's age and employment status were factors that created a difference in menstrual hygiene product choices.