Urinary and reproductive tract infection symptoms and menstrual hygiene practices in refugee camps in Jordan: A cross-sectional study

Al Karmi, Joud; Alshrouf, Mohammad Ali; Haddad, Tala A; Alhanbali, Abdulrahman E; Raiq, Neven Amer; Ghanem, Hadeel; Ibrahim, Omar Bassam; Khamis, Tala; Muhaidat, Nadia

doi:10.1177/17455057241240920

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Chronic exposure to inadequate menstrual hygiene can lead to recurring infections and other health issues, potentially exacerbating existing medical conditions and increasing healthcare needs over time. Previous study showed that high prevalence of urinary or reproductive tract infection symptoms among refugee menstruators and its association with poor menstrual hygiene practices [ 32 ]. In addition, the lack of hygienic menstrual management and limited access to affordable menstrual products, coupled with insufficient menstrual hygiene education, causes significant discomfort, psychological stress, and financial strain for women and girls [ 12 , 33 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Period poverty, reuse needs, and depressive symptoms among refugee menstruators in Jordan’s camps: a cross-sectional study

Muhaidat,

Karmi,

Karam

et al. 2024

BMC Women's Health

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Background Period poverty is a significant issue that impacts the physical and psychological well-being of menstruators worldwide which can further contribute to poor mental health outcomes. For menstruators living in refugee camps, access to menstrual hygiene products is often limited or non-existent, leading to increased anxiety, shame, and embarrassment. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of the period poverty and to comprehensively analyze the association between period poverty, reusing menstrual products, and depressive symptoms among menstruators living in refugee camps in Jordan. Methods A cross-sectional study surveyed refugee menstruators living in camps in Jordan, aged post-menarche to pre-menopause. Data collection included socio-demographics, menstrual practices, and depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Period poverty was assessed through affordability and frequency of struggles with menstrual products. Chi-squared test, independent sample t-test, One Way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Post hoc, and logistic regression models were used in the analysis. Results The study included a diverse sample of 386 refugee menstruators living in camps in Jordan (mean age 32.43 ± 9.95, age range 13–55). Period poverty was highly prevalent, with 42.0% reporting monthly struggles to afford menstrual products, and 71.5% reusing menstrual products. Univariate analysis revealed that experiencing period poverty was significantly associated with a younger age of marriage, increased number of children, lower education level, lower mother and father education levels, unemployment, decreased monthly income, absence of health insurance, lower reuse need score, and increased PHQ-9 score (p < 0.05). Menstruators experiencing monthly period poverty were 2.224 times more likely to report moderate to severe depression compared to those without period poverty (95% CI 1.069–4.631, P = 0.033). Conclusion This study highlights a significant association between period poverty and depressive symptoms among refugee menstruators in living in camps in Jordan, as high rates of period poverty were associated with a 2.2-fold increased likelihood of reporting moderate to severe depression. Addressing period poverty in refugee settings is crucial for mitigating depression risks and enhancing overall well-being.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%