Eco-Friendliness and Cost-Effectiveness of Reusable Sanitary Pads for Rural Women: A Model for Menstrual Hygiene Management in Low Resource Settings

Authors

  • Noor ul Ain Talpur Research Scholar, US- Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Janmshoro Sindh, Pakistan
  • Jamil Ahmed Department of Community Medicine, Rashid Latif Khan University (RLKU), Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Suhail Ahmed Bijarani Department of Community Medicine & Public Health Sciences, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Ilyas Siddiqui Department of Community Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, LUMHS, Jamshoro, Pakistan
  • Partab Puri Department of Community Health Sciences, Muhammad Medical College, Ibn-e- Sina University, Mirpur Khas, Pakistan
  • Shafi Muhammad Wassan Associate Professor (Chairperson), Department of Community Medicine, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College, Sukkur, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v23i4.76512

Keywords:

Menstrual Hygiene Management; Reusable Sanitary Pads;Rural Empowerment; Eco-Friendly;Cost-Effective; Gender Equality

Abstract

Background Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is fundamental to women’s health, well-being, and gender equality. The study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness and acceptability of reusable sanitary pads among rural women in Pakistan, proposing a scalable model for improving MHM practices in low-income countries. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using Multi- Stage Cluster sampling to accomplish a sample size of 340 childbearing-age women from the rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan. The data was collected using a standard questionnaire regarding the affordability and accessibility of reusable versus disposable sanitary pads; further information was also gathered from Market surveys for MHM products. The biodegradability of the pads was assessed using a soil burial test. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results Our research found a significant preference for reusable sanitary pads. The biodegradability tests demonstrated that reusable pads had a superior degradation rate (1.88%) to disposable pads (1.59%) over four months. Economic assessments showed a low utilization of commercial pads (12.5%) due to affordability issues, with 87.5% using reusable cloths. Despite 70% awareness of menstrual hygiene, 48% of women showed interest in creating sanitary solutions, underscoring the feasibility of implementing locally sourced, cost-effective products across similar socio-economic landscapes. Conclusion The present study underscores the universal applicability of affordable, sustainable MHM solutions in rural communities of low-income countries, advocating for broader implementation of such models to address global menstrual hygiene challenges.

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 04 October’24 Page : 1030-1037    

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Published

2024-10-02

How to Cite

Talpur, N. ul A., Ahmed, J., Bijarani, S. A., Siddiqui, M. I., Puri, P., & Wassan, S. M. (2024). Eco-Friendliness and Cost-Effectiveness of Reusable Sanitary Pads for Rural Women: A Model for Menstrual Hygiene Management in Low Resource Settings. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 23(4), 1030–1037. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v23i4.76512

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 4 (2024)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Noor ul Ain Talpur, Jamil Ahmed, Suhail Ahmed Bijarani, Muhammad Ilyas Siddiqui, Partab Puri, Shafi Muhammad Wassan

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