Menstrual Hygiene Screening Needs Assessment in South Dakota

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gynecology
• Healthcare Needs Assessment

Background:

• Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is critical for women's reproductive health, with inadequate practices leading to significant social and economic consequences.
• While often studied in developing nations, poor MHM also affects vulnerable populations in developed countries, including impoverished, homeless, or incarcerated women in the US.
• South Dakota, a predominantly rural state, presents a unique context for understanding MHM challenges within its healthcare system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent of gynecologic health history questions related to MHM asked by primary care providers and nursing staff in South Dakota.
• To identify gaps in provider awareness and patient inquiry regarding menstrual hygiene practices and needs.
• To inform the development of tools for improving MHM information gathering in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• A survey methodology was employed, with an electronic survey distributed to primary care providers and nursing staff in South Dakota.
• The survey collected data on provider awareness of patients' MHM status and the frequency of specific MHM-related questions asked during gynecologic health histories.
• Results informed the creation of a waiting room screening tool to enhance MHM data collection efficiency.

Main Results:

• Provider awareness of MHM varied significantly, with an average score of 22.11 out of a possible 57.
• A notable percentage of providers (24%) reported no awareness of their patients' access to menstrual hygiene products.
• The majority of providers (74%) never inquire about patients' access to water and sanitation, and 15% never ask about the types of hygiene products used.

Conclusions:

• This needs assessment highlights a critical gap in provider knowledge and inquiry regarding menstrual hygiene management in South Dakota.
• The findings suggest that MHM issues, despite their known impact, may go unidentified in patient populations within the state.
• Addressing these gaps is essential for improving patient care and reproductive health outcomes for women in South Dakota.