How can we improve knowledge and perceptions of menstruation? A mixed-methods research study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Reproductive Health Education
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Traditional menstrual education (ME) primarily targets women through lectures.
• There is a need for inclusive ME programs addressing the needs of both young men and women.
• Existing ME approaches lack comprehensive information on diverse menstrual products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design an innovative menstrual education (ME) program for young adults of all genders.
• To assess the effectiveness of the developed ME program in improving knowledge and perceptions.
• To incorporate feedback from young adults regarding content delivery and product information.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining focus groups (n=14) and online surveys (n=150) to identify program needs.
• Development of the Multi-Experimental Menstrual Education (MEME) program based on identified needs.
• Effectiveness verification through a study with 10 young adult participants.

Main Results:

• Young adults desire more information on menstrual products and accessible, gender-neutral content.
• Exposure to menstruation and menstrual products positively influenced knowledge and perceptions.
• The MEME program included hands-on product exposure, expert Q&A, and multimedia resources.

Conclusions:

• The innovative MEME program achieved high participant satisfaction and enhanced understanding of menstruation.
• The program's systematic approach can potentially shift perceptions and alleviate poverty-related menstruation challenges.
• Further research with larger samples is recommended to validate MEME's effectiveness and explore curriculum integration.