Awareness of the Environmental Impact of Menstrual Hygiene Products and Products of Choice Among Undergraduate Female Medical Students: A Mixed-Method Study

A BSTRACT Background: One of the biggest problems our environment faces is created by ourselves: waste disposal. The most concerning category is plastic waste disposal. Single-use plastics are condemned everywhere, but disposable menstrual products seem to be missing from this category.

Aims

To determine the level of awareness among medical students regarding the environmental impact of menstrual products. To assess whether their knowledge of menstrual products and their environmental impact affects their product of choice (POC). Materials and Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted among 366 medical undergraduate female students via an online survey and two focus group discussions. Short, informative videos were provided to create awareness. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. The data were compiled and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and thematic analysis.