• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was to explore the perception about menstruation and discomforts of using disposable menstrual pads in menstruating women. Method: A survey was conducted of 132 menstrual women recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected by a face-to-face interview and a study questionnaire, and analyzed by frequency and $X^2$-test. Result: More than half of the subjects expressed a negative perception about menstruation, while 25% expressed a mixed perception and 24.2% expressed a positive perception. Women who perceived their menstruation negatively had more menstrual pain than the others (p<.001). The most frequently experienced discomforts of using disposable pads were an unpleasant smell (18.9%), leakage (18.9%), and discomfort (16.6%). Adverse effects of using disposable pads were reported as an itching sense (23.1%). skin rash (20.2%), and skin irritation (10.6%). Alternate materials were reported with tampons, alternate washable pads, and maternity pads. Conclusion: The results indicate that disposable menstrual pads cause several discomforts and common adverse effects such as skin problems. To decrease these discomforts and relieve adverse effects, planned nursing education including women's personal hygiene methods and information about an alternate pad may be helpful.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.401-407
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• 2023

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.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.104-119
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• 2021

Purpose: Safety concerns regarding the use of disposable sanitary pads have emerged as a social issue in Korea, and some have advocated alternatives to alleviate these concerns. However, menstrual cups are rarely viewed as an option because of the sociocultural climate. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Korean women that use menstrual cups. Methods: Hermeneutic phenomenology as suggested by Van Manen was utilized for the study. Fourteen women, who had been using menstrual cups, were recruited and asked to participated in face-to-face interviews. Interview data were transcribed and coded by lifeworld existentials. Results: Four fundamental themes were emerged from the data: adaption to menstrual cups, body's various responses towards the menstrual cups, the menstrual cups being unwelcomed in Korean society, and our various perspectives towards menstrual cups. Conclusion: We could observe not only the positive experiences in terms of using menstrual cups but also the various difficulties and challenges of using those menstrual cups in Korean society. We hope that the findings could be used as the evidence for developing health education contents and policies to promote women's health.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.236-244
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• 2011

Purpose: In this study the impact of pro-environmental behavior, well-being oriented behavior, and use of cloth menstrual pads on dysmenorrhea in Korean female adults was examined according to the theory of reasoned action. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 195 Korean female adults. Data were collected from June to August, 2010 using self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, multiple regression, and logit regression with STATA 10.0. Results: Pro-environmental behavior explained 48% of well-being oriented behavior. Well-being oriented behavior explained 10% of cloth pad use. Use of cloth pad explained 4% of dysmenorrhea and 5% of menstrual pain. The path through well-being oriented behavior had a significant effect from pro-environmental behavior to cloth pad use. Conclusion: Use of cloth pad was significantly related with well-being oriented behavior, pro-environmental behavior, social influence, dysmenorrhea, and menstrual pain. The results of this study suggest that pro-environmental strategies can help health care providers diminish clients' menstrual symptoms. Nursing intervention can support pro-environmental behavioral strategies.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2014

Purpose: The study was to survey personal hygiene practice related to genito-urinary tract and menstrual hygiene management in female adolescents in order to obtain basic information for health education. Methods: With a descriptive survey design, 389 adolescents were recruited via convenience sampling in Korea. Survey instrument was the feminine and menstrual hygiene practice and perception of vaginal douching. Data were collected from a self-administered structured questionnaire. Results: Mean age of adolescents was 16.09 and menarche was at 13.21. While washing hands after urination/defecation was highly performed, wipe front to back and wash with soap and water were reported as being not well done. Twenty-eight percent reported douching habit. More positive beliefs about douching were reported by adolescents who practiced douching. Menstrual hygiene management was very appropriate with changing sanitary pads regularly with hand washing; but less performed for limiting bathing activity during menstrual periods and washing hands after activity of genito-urinary area. Conclusion: Some adolescents practiced inadequate hygiene practices especially for body cleansing during menstrual period and vaginal douching. It is important to develop and implement school health education programs on feminine and personal hygiene for adolescents to help them perform adequate health behaviors.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.218-232
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was undertaken to identify the risk factors of genital infection by examining the genital hygiene practice followed by adult women of reproductive age. The results can be applied as basic data for health education and health management on female genital hygiene practices. Methods: Data ware collected by conducting an online survey, comprising 200 adult women of reproductive age. Genital infections according to genital hygiene practice were analyzed by simple logistic regression. Results: In this study, the Odds Ratio (OR) of genital infection occurrence of genital hygiene practices used were disposable briefs 4.11 (CI 1.79-9.39, p=0.020), feminine deodorant spray 3.13 (CI 1.37-7.15, p=0.007), deodorant, vaginal inserts (tabs/supp) 10.60 (CI 3.97-28.28, p<0.001), over the counter anti-itch products 3.73 (CI 1.67-8.34, p=0.001), blotting 11.47 (CI 4.62-28.48, p<0.001), natural sea sponge 4.98 (CI 2.04-12.15, p<0.001), reusable cotton pads 5.76 (CI 2.48-13.33, p<0.001), tampons 2.60 (CI 1.17-5.77, p=0.019), tampons/pads between periods 4.79 (CI 2.07-11.10, p<0.001) and tampons/pads combination 4.11 (CI 1.79-9.39, p=0.001) Conclusion: Our results indicated the necessity to refrain from unnecessary application of genital hygiene practices, which is highly related to genital infections identified in this study. There is a need to continue education for proper performance.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.116-131
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• 1998

This study was undertaken to obtain the menstrual patterns and menstrual discomforts in women university students. For the data collection, self-administered questionnaire survey was made from December 10, 1996 to January 20, 1997 among the 180 women university students in Seoul. The resultant data were processed by SAS program for frequency, proportion, and chi-square test. The results of this study are as follows ; 1) The mean age of the subjects was 20.6 years old. The mean height was 162cm and weight was 52.3Kg. $26.9\%$ of the subjects responded that they had experienced the unbalanced diet, $56\%$ the irregular meal, $39.6\%$intermittent dizziness, and $63.4\%$ the premenstrual syndrome. $53.7\%$ had feeling that skin temperature of their four extremities was 'a little lower than others'. The mean BMI(Body Mass Index) was 19.8, 'normal level' was $41.8\%$. $18.7\%$ responded that their characters were 'introspective ones'. The mean age of menache was 13.8 years old. The subjects responded that the mean number of pads they used per day during menstrual periods was 4.6 sheets. The mean duration of menstruation was 5.4 days, $10.4\%$ responded that their menstrual cycles were 'extremely regular', $44.8\%$ was 'regular', $36.6\%$ was 'a little irregular', and $8.2\%$ was 'extremely irregular'. Out of them who had experienced the dysmenorrhea, $21.3\%$ had family history of dysmenorrhea in connection with their mother and $35.0\%$ in their sisters. The mean of the first time that they experienced dysmenorrhea was 15 years old. $94\%$ of the subjects responded that they had experienced the dysmeorrhea. $47.6\%$ of the subjects responded that they experienced the dysmenorrhea 'monthly' and $52.4\%$ 'intermittently'. $53.0\%$ of them who had experienced dysmenorrhea responded that dysmenorrhea was the severest 'on the first menstrual day' and $22.4\%$ 'on the second day'. $48.8\%$ of them who had experienced dysmenorrhea responded that the most painful region was 'low abdomen'. $40\%$ of them who had experienced dysmenorrhea responded that they used 'analgesics' to soothe dysmenorrhea, $24.8\%$ used nothing, $18.4\%$ lay in their beds or slept, and $12\%$ made their 'low abdomen' warm. $70.3\%$ who had used analgesics because of dysmenorrhea took analgesics 'one or two times per month', $25.7\%$ 'intermittently', and $4.0\%$ more than 3 times per month. The analgesics which they used were 'geworin$(33.8\%)$,' 'penzal$(32.4\%)$', 'tyrenol$(18.9\%)$', and 'aspirin$(4.2\%)$'. $(47.9\%)$ of them who took analgesics because of dysmenorrhea responded that the duration of analgesics effect was '4 to 8 hours'. $15.1\%$ of them who experienced dysmenorrhea responded that they had visited the hospital. 2) The incidence of premenstrual syndrome was no significant difference according to the BMI, unbalanced diet, pattern of meal, skin temperature of four extremites, and characters. 3) The incidence of dysmenorrhea was significant difference according to the BMI, unbalanced diet, pattern of meal, skin temperature of four extremites, and characters. 4) The incidence of analgesics usage was significant difference according to the BMI, subjects with low BMI took more analgesics than those with normal BMI (p<.05). The incidence of analgesics usage was significant difference in accordance with pattern of meal. The women who had a meal regularly took more analgesics than those who had a meal irregularly(p<.05). But the incidence of analgesics usage was no significant difference in accordance with the unbalanced diet, characters, the incidence of dizziness, skin temperature of four extremities, the incidence of premenstrual syndrome.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2013

Purpose: The study was done to survey feminine hygiene and vaginal douche practices in middle-aged women to obtain basic information for public health education. Methods: With a descriptive survey design, 134 middle-aged women who have menstrual period were recruited via convenience sampling. Survey contents were from the study by Czerwinski (2000) regarding feminine hygiene and vaginal douching practices. After obtaining IRB approval, a self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed to study participants. Results: Mean age of middle-aged women was 46.88 years old. Fifty-six percent of the women practiced vaginal douching. Women performed douching with water (68%), commercial products (13%), soap (12%), and vinegar-mixed water (6%) for clean and fresh feeling, removal of unpleasant odor, and removal of vaginal discharge. Vaginal douche practice was significantly related to a history of vaginitis. Conclusion: The study results indicate that most of the women practiced inadequate feminine hygiene especially in douching, suggesting that is important to develop education programs on feminine hygiene practices for women of all ages, especially regarding douching and hand washing before and after changing pads or tampons.