The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology (문화기술의 융합)

The International Promotion Agency of Culture Technology (국제문화기술진흥원)
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Use of Menstrual Sanitary Products in Community Women of Childbearing Age

지역사회 가임기 여성의 생리대 사용 조사

  • 단현주 (화성의과학대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 정희자 (건양대학교 간호학과)
  • Received : 2023.10.03
  • Accepted : 2023.11.05
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

This study is a descriptive study to identify the patterns of use of menstrual sanitary products among community women of childbearing age. The participants were 1,571 women between the ages of 19 and 40, and data collection was conducted through online and mobile surveys from September 2020 to August 2021. As a result, 88.9% of the participants were using disposable menstrual pad, 5.6% tampons, 3.1% cloth menstrual pad, and followed by others(2.4%), including menstrual cups. The differences of type of menstrual sanitary products according to general characteristics showed significant in age(p=.006), marital status(p=.005), education level(p=.002), annual salary(p=.018), experience of pregnancy(p=.036), and menstrual regularity(p=.022). More than half of the participants(53.8%) responded that cloth menstrual pads were 'very safe' or 'safe,' but 27.9% and 20.1% of disposable menstrual pads and tampons, respectively. The difference in menstrual distress according to the type of menstrual sanitary products showed that tampon users had a higher menstrual discomfort score for the most recent menstruation(F=4.092, p=.017) and 4 days before menstruation(F=4.178, p=.016) than users of disposable menstrual pad or cloth menstrual pad. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously investigate the use of menstrual sanitary products by women of childbearing age and its relationship with reproductive health.

본 연구는 지역사회 가임기 여성의 생리대 사용실태를 조사하기 위해 시행된 서술적 조사연구이다. 연구대상자는 지역사회의 만 19-40세의 가임기 여성 1,571명으로, 자료수집은 2020년 9월부터 2021년 8월까지 온라인 및 모바일 설문조사로 진행되었다. 연구결과 참여자의 88.9%(1,396명)가 일반 패드형 생리대를 사용하고 있었으며, 탐폰 5.6%(88명), 면 생리대 3.1%(49명), 생리 컵을 포함한 기타가 2.4%(38명) 순이었으며, 일반적 특성에 따른 사용하는 생리대 종류의 차이는 나이(p=.006), 결혼상태(p=.005), 교육정도(p=.002), 연 소득(p=.018), 임신경험(p=.036), 및 월경규칙성(p=.022)에 따라 모두 유의한 차이를 나타냈다. 또한 참여자들의 절반 이상(53.8%)이 면 생리대는 '아주 안전' 혹은 '안전하다'고 응답하였으며, 일반 패드형 생리대와 탐폰은 각각 27.9%, 20.1%가 '안전하다'고 응답하였다. 생리대 종류에 따른 월경불편감의 차이는 탐폰 사용자가 일반 패드형 생리대나 면 생리대 사용자보다 '가장 최근 월경'의 월경불편감 점수(F=4.092, p=.017) 및 '월경 전 4일'의 월경불편감 점수에서 모두 높은 것으로 나타났다(F=4.178, p=.016). 따라서 가임기 여성의 생리대의 사용실태 및 생식건강과의 관련성에 대한 지속적인 조사와 관리가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 성과는 정부(과학기술정보통신부)의 재원으로 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행된 연구임(No. 2019R1G1A109954113)

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