BACKGROUND: In low-income settings, many women and girls face activity restrictions during menses, owing to lack of affordable menstrual products. The menstrual cup (MC) is a nonabsorbent reusable cup that collects menstrual blood. We assessed the acceptability and performance of the MPower®MC compared to pads or tampons among women in a low-resource setting. METHODS: We conducted a randomized two-period crossover trial at one site in Durban, South Africa, between January and November 2013. Participants aged 18-45 years with regular menstrual cycles were eligible for inclusion if they had no intention of becoming pregnant, were using an effective contraceptive method, had water from the municipal system as their primary water source, and had no sexually transmitted infections. We used a computer-generated randomization sequence to assign participants to one of two sequences of menstrual product use, with allocation concealed only from the study investigators. Participants used each method over three menstrual cycles (total 6 months) and were interviewed at baseline and monthly follow-up visits. The product acceptability outcome compared product satisfaction question scores using an ordinal logistic regression model with individual random effects. This study is registered on the South African Clinical Trials database: number DOH-27-01134273. RESULTS:Of 124 women assessed, 110 were eligible and randomly assigned to selected menstrual products. One hundred and five women completed all follow-up visits. By comparison to pads/tampons (usual product used), the MC was rated significantly better for comfort, quality, menstrual blood collection, appearance, and preference. Both of these comparative outcome measures, along with likelihood of continued use, recommending the product, and future purchase, increased for the MC over time. CONCLUSION:MC acceptance in a population of novice users, many with limited experience with tampons, indicates that there is a pool of potential users in low-resource settings.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: In low-income settings, many women and girls face activity restrictions during menses, owing to lack of affordable menstrual products. The menstrual cup (MC) is a nonabsorbent reusable cup that collects menstrual blood. We assessed the acceptability and performance of the MPower® MC compared to pads or tampons among women in a low-resource setting. METHODS: We conducted a randomized two-period crossover trial at one site in Durban, South Africa, between January and November 2013. Participants aged 18-45 years with regular menstrual cycles were eligible for inclusion if they had no intention of becoming pregnant, were using an effective contraceptive method, had water from the municipal system as their primary water source, and had no sexually transmitted infections. We used a computer-generated randomization sequence to assign participants to one of two sequences of menstrual product use, with allocation concealed only from the study investigators. Participants used each method over three menstrual cycles (total 6 months) and were interviewed at baseline and monthly follow-up visits. The product acceptability outcome compared product satisfaction question scores using an ordinal logistic regression model with individual random effects. This study is registered on the South African Clinical Trials database: number DOH-27-01134273. RESULTS: Of 124 women assessed, 110 were eligible and randomly assigned to selected menstrual products. One hundred and five women completed all follow-up visits. By comparison to pads/tampons (usual product used), the MC was rated significantly better for comfort, quality, menstrual blood collection, appearance, and preference. Both of these comparative outcome measures, along with likelihood of continued use, recommending the product, and future purchase, increased for the MC over time. CONCLUSION:MC acceptance in a population of novice users, many with limited experience with tampons, indicates that there is a pool of potential users in low-resource settings.
Authors: Shameem Z Jaumdally; Heidi E Jones; Donald R Hoover; Hoyam Gamieldien; Jean-Mari Kriek; Nontokozo Langwenya; Landon Myer; Jo-Ann S Passmore; Catherine S Todd Journal: Am J Reprod Immunol Date: 2017-01-23 Impact factor: 3.886
Authors: Penelope A Phillips-Howard; Elizabeth Nyothach; Feiko O Ter Kuile; Jackton Omoto; Duolao Wang; Clement Zeh; Clayton Onyango; Linda Mason; Kelly T Alexander; Frank O Odhiambo; Alie Eleveld; Aisha Mohammed; Anna M van Eijk; Rhiannon Tudor Edwards; John Vulule; Brian Faragher; Kayla F Laserson Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-11-23 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Jane Juma; Elizabeth Nyothach; Kayla F Laserson; Clifford Oduor; Lilian Arita; Caroline Ouma; Kelvin Oruko; Jackton Omoto; Linda Mason; Kelly T Alexander; Barry Fields; Clayton Onyango; Penelope A Phillips-Howard Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-05-04 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Shameem Z Jaumdally; Lindi Masson; Heidi E Jones; Smritee Dabee; Donald R Hoover; Hoyam Gamieldien; Nontokozo Langwenya; Landon Myer; Catherine S Todd; Jo-Ann S Passmore Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2018-08-15 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Anna Maria van Eijk; Kayla F Laserson; Elizabeth Nyothach; Kelvin Oruko; Jackton Omoto; Linda Mason; Kelly Alexander; Clifford Oduor; Aisha Mohammed; Alie Eleveld; Isaac Ngere; David Obor; John Vulule; Penelope A Phillips-Howard Journal: Reprod Health Date: 2018-08-17 Impact factor: 3.223
Authors: Myles F Elledge; Arundati Muralidharan; Alison Parker; Kristin T Ravndal; Mariam Siddiqui; Anju P Toolaram; Katherine Pierson Woodward Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-11-15 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Penelope A Phillips-Howard; George Otieno; Barbara Burmen; Frederick Otieno; Frederick Odongo; Clifford Odour; Elizabeth Nyothach; Nyanguara Amek; Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez; Frank Odhiambo; Clement Zeh; Daniel Kwaro; Lisa A Mills; Kayla F Laserson Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2015-08-21 Impact factor: 2.681