Confidence to manage menstruation among university students in Australia: Evidence from a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Objectives: There has been increased attention to university students’ experiences of menstrual disorders, and access to menstrual products, in high-income countries. Less attention has been directed to other aspects of their menstrual experience, including confidence for menstrual management. This study aimed to understand the factors affecting university students’ confidence to manage menstruation at university. Methods: An online survey was completed by 410 participants (age range: 16–46 years, mean = 20.1 years) who menstruate and study at an Australian university. Participants reported demographic characteristics, confidence to manage menstruation at university, and personal, physical and environmental factors. A Mann–Whitney U-test analysed differences in confidence between groups of students. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and bivariate linear regressions determined associations between factors and confidence. Statistically significant associations were inputted into a multiple linear regression model. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: A minority of students (16.2%) felt completely confident to manage their menstruation at university. Menstrual knowledge, positive perceptions of menstruation and comfort to discuss menstruation with others positively predicted confidence. Physical menstrual symptoms, negative perceptions of menstruation, perceived stigma and using a menstrual cup or period underwear predicted lower confidence. In multiple regression, private and clean and sanitary university bathroom facilities, changing menstrual products at university, perceived stigma and negative perceptions of menstruation remained significant predictors. Conclusion: Most students did not have complete confidence to manage their menstruation at university. Several personal, physical and environmental factors were related to students’ confidence to manage menstruation. Assessment of these factors in future research with university students is recommended to enable a comprehensive understanding of their menstrual needs, and inform interventions aimed at improving their menstrual management confidence at university.

Menstrual health and hygiene among young Palestinian female university students in the West Bank: a cross-sectional study

“…The availability of private and clean bathroom facilities was identified as among the strong predictors of confidence to manage menstruation among university students in Australia. 12 …”

“…Inadequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management in university campuses,12 20 workplaces and schools including lack of water, soap, privacy, lighted toilets, dustbins and sanitary pads were constraints for many university students and were associated with non-hygienic menstrual practices and lack of confidence in managing their menstruation while at the university,12 such as keeping menstrual products longer than recommended during menstruation as reported by our participants and absenteeism due to fear of leakage and staining and poor menstrual hygiene 10 55. About 21.3% of students from India reported no tap water, and 80.1% reported no soap for hand washing in toilets when they visited in colleges,52 which is similar to our context where 72% of participants reported using menstrual products longer than recommended due to absence of appropriate washing facilities on campus.…”

“…The lack of appropriate facilities within campus has negatively influenced our participants’ feelings of confidence as 84% feel scared of staining clothes with blood when menstruating. The availability of private and clean bathroom facilities was identified as among the strong predictors of confidence to manage menstruation among university students in Australia 12…”

“…This is especially true for women and girls in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) and areas of conflict and displacement 8 9. Unfortunately, the evidence from many countries indicated that millions of women and girls are struggling to manage their monthly menstrual cycle due to shame, stigma, stress, social exclusion, inadequate information and support and lack of access to menstrual products, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools, universities and the workplace 9–21. Menstrual poverty refers to a lack of access to needed menstrual products or necessary sanitation facilities22 or adequately and timely information23 during menstrual period, which is a crucial part of reproductive health and is a basic human right 6.…”

The Effectiveness of Giving Red Ginger Water and Warm Compresses to Reduce the Intensity of Dysmenorrhoea Pain in Adolescent Girls

“…The prevalence of menstruation pain worldwide is highly documented. In every nation, the prevalence of dysmenorrhea is over 50% among women (Munro et al, 2022).…”