INTRODUCTION:

Menstrual cup is an alternative to sanitary pads, which has received attention in relatively small-scale studies in high income, and low- and middle-income countries, including among schoolgirls. Made of high-grade medical grade silicone (biodegradable) have the advantage of reuse, and can potentially last up to 10 years (Ballal and Bhandary, 2020).

Menstrual cup is one of the menstrual management products available throughout the world. This product is flexible and reusable, made of silicone and used to collect menstrual blood vaginally. The willingness to use these cups is increasing, which is mainly due to the public's desire to use the eco-friendly period products. Menstrual cups can protect the environment by preventing from discarding millions of sanitary pads and tampons and improve the quality of life of women, especially athletes and working women, due to longer protection periods, leakage prevention, compatibility with activity and limiting the risk of toxic shock syndrome.

This device can fill a major gap in menstrual hygiene products and women's reproductive health around the world, consequently empowering women in menstrual management (Gharacheh et al., 2021).

Menstrual hygiene management can be challenging in low-income settings and among school aged girls due to traditional beliefs, lack of knowledge and information on best hygienic practices, and limited access to appropriate and affordable menstrual hygiene products. An alternative method for menstrual hygiene management, instead of sanitary pads or tampons, is the vaginal menstrual cup. As evidence on the use of menstrual cups is relatively limited, this study aimed to explore the acceptability and feasibility of using vaginal menstrual cups among school-aged girls in Thokarpa, Sindupalchowk, Nepal (Pokhrel et al., 2021).

The previous study conducted are related to knowledge, practice, feasibility and effectiveness of the menstrual cup among reproductive age group women and adolescent girls. To the researcher's knowledge, there are no any study conducted for the knowledge regarding the menstrual cup among nursing students of Nepal. Being the student of nursing field as well as female, the researcher is encouraged and felt need to carryout study on knowledge regarding menstrual cup among Nursing students.

OBJECTIVE:

General objective:

To find out the knowledge regarding menstrual cup among nursing students of National Medical College Nursing Campus, NMCNC.

Specific objectives:

To assess the level of knowledge regarding menstrual cup among the nursing students.

To find out the association between selected socio-demographic variables and level of knowledge regarding menstrual cup among nursing students.

OPERATIONAL DEFECATION:

Knowledge: In this study knowledge refers to the correct responses about the menstrual cup as measured by self-administered structured knowledge questionnaire and expressed in terms of knowledge score.

The knowledge level is scored as:

· Inadequate knowledge= <50% of total score

· Moderate Knowledge-51-75% of total score

· Adequate Knowledge-76-100 % of total score

(Muhire, 2021)

Menstrual cup:

Menstrual cup is device which is inserted into vagina during the menstruation.

VARIABLES OF THIS STUDY:

The variables of the study were:

· Knowledge regarding menstrual cup

· Age, academic year, religion, marital status, age of menarche, source of information

DELIMITATIONS:

The study will be delimited to nursing students of selected College of Nursing

Conceptual/Theoretical Frame Work:

Conceptual framework referred to the interrelated concepts or abstractions that are assembled together in some rational scheme by virtue of their relevance to a common theme.

This framework showed that the dependent variable i.e. knowledge regarding menstrual cup among nursing students will be directly or indirectly affected by various independent variables such as socio-demographic characteristics (age, marital status, religion, academic year of study, age of menarche and sources of information). The level of knowledge will be categorized into inadequate, moderate and adequate.

METHODOLOGY:

RESEARCH DESIGN:

Descriptive cross sectional study design was used to assess the level of knowledge regarding menstrual cup among nursing students.

SETTING OF THE STUDY:

This study was conducted at National Medical College Nursing Campus, Birgunj, Parsa.

POPULATION:

In this study population comprises PCL nursing students studying 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd from selected Nursing Campus, Birgunj

SAMPLE:

The sample size were 83. The sample size of the study was calculated by using Cochrans formula.

Sampling Technique:

Stratified Proportionate random sampling technique was adopted to select the nursing students for the study.

Instrument Used for The Study:

A self-administered structured questionnaire was prepared for data collection.

A research tool consisted of two parts which are as follows;

Part I: Questions related to socio-demographic variables (age, religion, academic year of study, marital status, age of menarche, source of information)

Part II: Self-administered structured questionnaire to assess knowledge regarding menstrual cup among nursing students.

The knowledge level was scored as:

· Adequate level of knowledge = More than 75 % of total score

· Moderate level of knowledge = 50-75% of total score

· Inadequate level =<50% of total score

Plan of Data Analysis:

Table 1 represents the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents where more than half of the respondents 59% were in age group >19 years. 33.7% were from first and third year each respectively and 32.5% were from second year. Majority of the respondents, 74.7% belongs to Hindu religion. Most of respondents were unmarried 94%. It depicits majority, 66.3% have age of menarche between 12-14 year.

Table 1: Socio Demographic Characteristics of Respondents

n=83

Demographic variables

Frequency

Percentage

Age (in years)

≥ 19 year

< 19 year

Mean age ± SD (18.93±1.197)

Academic year

First year

Second year

Third year

Religion

Hinduism

Islam

Buddhism

Christianity

Marital status

Married

Unmarried

Age of menarche

9-11 year

12-14 year

15-17 year

59.0

41.0

33.7

32.5

33.7

74.7

6.0

16.9

2.4

6.0

94.0

9.6

66.3

24.1

Table 2: Source of Information of Respondents about Menstrual Cup n=83

Variables

Frequency

Percentage

Source of information

Television

Radio

Internet sources

Peer interaction

Family

Other sources

12.0

3.6

71.1

4.8

1.2

7.2

Table 2 represents, majority of respondents 71.1% had heard about menstrual cup from internet sources followed by television 12.0%.

Table 3: Level of Knowledge regarding Menstrual Cup among Respondents n=83

Knowledge Level

Frequency

Percentage

Inadequate

Moderate

Adequate

31.3

56.7

12.0

Table 3 shows most of respondents, 56.7% had moderate level of knowledge, 13.3 % had inadequate level of knowledge and only 12.0% had adequate level of knowledge regarding menstrual cup.

Table 4 represents majority of respondents, 97.6% had knowledge about area of insertion of menstrual cup whereas least 22.9o had given correct response about parts of menstrual cup. Majority 85.1% had knowledge regarding duration of emptying menstrual cup during menstruation and 32.5% had knowledge about average holding capacity of menstrual cup whereas 28.9% had given correct response about storage of menstrual cup.

Table 4: Socio Demographic Characteristics of Respondents n=83

Items

Correct response

Frequency

Percentage

Meaning of menstrual cup is biodegradable and reusable.

Function of menstrual cup is collection.

Material used to make menstrual cup is silicon

Shape of menstrual cup is bell.

Parts of menstrual cup are Rim, Body and Knob.

Menstrual cup is inserted in vagina.

Available size of menstrual cup are smaller, medium and larger.

Average Holding capacity of menstrual cup in it is 20-30 ml.

Duration of emptying menstrual menstruation is every 4-12 hour.

Duration of reusability is up to 10 years.

Best position for inserting menstrual cup is squatting.

Factor on which size of menstrual cup depend on age of women.

Steps of menstrual cup insertion is wash, fold and insert.

Menstrual cup can be cleaned with running water.

Method of sterilization of menstrual cup is boiling.

Advantages of menstrual cup is odor free and economical.

Misconceptions about menstrual cup are cup during

· Females will lose their virginity

· Cannot be used while sleeping

· Can get stuck

Storage of menstrual cup in breathable pouches.

77.1

71.1

24.1

86.7

22.9

97.6

81.9

32.5

85.1

39.8

79.5

51.8

83.1

80.7

41.0

28.9

Table 5: Association of Knowledge and their specific personal variables.

Variables

Level of Knowledge

Χ²

P-value

Inadequate f (%)

Moderate f (%)

Adequate f (%)

Age (in years)*

≥ 19 year

< 19 year

16 (18.38)

10 (29.41)

24 (48.97)

23 (67.65)

9 (18.38)

1 (2.94)

5.266

0.067

Academic year*

First year

Second year

Third year

Religion*

Hinduism

Islam

Buddhism

Christianity

Marital status*

Married

Unmarried

Age of menarche*

9-11 year

12-14 year

15-17 year

Source of information*

Television

Radio

Internet sources

Peer interaction

Family

Other sources

13 (46.43)

3 (11.1)

10 (35.7)

18 (29.0)

1 (20.0)

7 (50.0)

0 (0.0)

2 (40.0)

24 (30.8)

4 (50.0)

15 (27.3)

7 (35.0)

3 (30.0)

1 (33.3)

20 (33.9)

0 (0.0)

2 (33.3)

13 (46.43)

23 (88.9)

10 (37.7)

35 (56.5)

3 (60.0)

7 (50.0)

2 (100.0)

3 (60.0)

44 (56.4)

4 (50.0)

31 (56.4)

12 (60.0)

7 (70.0)

2 (66.7)

30 (50.8)

3 (75.0)

1 (100.0)

4 (66.7)

2 (7.14)

0 (0.0)

8 (28.6)

9 (14.5)

1 (20.0)

0 (0.0)

10 (12.8)

0 (0.0)

9 (16.4)

1 (5.0)

0 (0.0)

9 (15.3)

1 (25.0)

0 (0.0)

22.406

5.320

0.488

3.249

6.385

0.000

0.462

0.734

0.490

0.828

Significance level at <0.05, *: Fisher's Exact test, X²: Chi-square, df: degree of freedom

Table 5 depicts that there is significant association of knowledge level with academic year of study (p-value= 0.000) whereas there is no significant association between knowledge level and religion (p-value = 0.462), age in years (p-value-0.067), marital status (p-value= 0.734), age of menarche (p-value= 0.490) and source of information (p value=0.828).

CONCLUSION:

It can be concluded from study findings that more than half of the respondents tend to had moderate level of knowledge whereas one third of study population had inadequate knowledge and only few had adequate level of knowledge regarding menstrual cup. There is significant association between knowledge level and academic level of study and source of information.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that:

1. Similar study can be conducted in larger sample which may be used to generalize the finding.

2. Study can be conducted in different setting than nursing college.

3. Comparative study among different programme can be carried out in future days.

4. Planned teaching programme can be done to upgrade the knowledge regarding menstrual cup.

REFERENCE:

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Received on 18.12.2023 Modified on 10.01.2024

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2024; 14(1):65-69.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2024.00013