Uptake and Adherence to Using a Menstrual Cup for Managing Menstruation Among Women in Rural Areas of India

The study aims to assess the uptake and adherence of menstrual cups among tribal-rural women.

The study was conducted in rural tribal areas of Gujarat from 2018 to 2020. A total of 106 menstruating women aged 18-54 years were enrolled. Participants were provided information regarding menstrual cups. Those women who opted were provided menstrual cups (marketed as Ever cups) at Rs. 100 (US $ 1.25). They were followed up for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. Their experiences were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Uptake was defined as the percentage of women who used menstrual cups at least once. Adherence is the percentage of cycles for which the menstrual cup was used out of the total scheduled processes.

Of 106 women, 73 (68.87%) women used the cup at least once. Among them, 55 (75%) women used cups during all menstrual cycles during the study period. 72 (98.63%) users expressed satisfaction with the menstrual cup. The average adherence was 79.91%. The common reasons for the non-usage of the cup were unmarried status and lack of hygienic facilities and privacy.

The menstrual cup was well accepted among this predominantly working population of married women in rural settings. As per user experiences, the menstrual cup has been easy to use and saved time and money in comparison with prevailing products. However, the cup was less acceptable among unmarried women.