Overview of menstrual hygiene management and other risk factors concerning bacterial vaginosis

Zahra, Fatima Tuz and Sultana, Ummay Farihin and Quinn-Walker, Natalie (2025) Overview of menstrual hygiene management and other risk factors concerning bacterial vaginosis. Discover Public Health, 22 (1). ISSN 3005-0774

Preview

Text s12982-025-00416-w.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (547kB)

Abstract

Background

Bangladesh is a developing nation where, for a variety of reasons, adequate female reproductive health is not maintained. A variety of health issues, including but not limited to bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and cervical cancer, plague Bangladeshi women.

Methods

The study employed a one-year cross-sectional design, combining a quantitative participatory approach. It was conducted at two healthcare facilities, AK Memorial Hospital in Maona, Gazipur, and Lubana General Hospital & Uttara Cardiac Centre, involving 244 voluntary participants. Among them, 153 women meeting specific inclusion criteria (reproductive and menopausal age, bacterial vaginosis diagnosis) were selected, while those with a negative bacterial vaginosis (BV) diagnosis were excluded. Data collection primarily occurred in the outpatient department, with participants covering a wide age range and representing diverse socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, ensuring the study's findings were comprehensive and representative.

Results

65.4% of the BV-positive women were married. It was observed that married women were more susceptible to BV than unmarried women. The study also revealed that poor menstrual hygiene was the leading cause of BV. Around 81% of women had poor menstrual hygiene, whereas 68% of them changed their absorbents more than once or twice a day.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1186/s12982-025-00416-w
Dates:	Date Event 20 January 2025 Accepted 22 February 2025 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Bacterial vaginosis, Amsel criteria, Menstrual hygiene, Menstrual absorbent, Absorbent change rate
Subjects:	CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-06 - allied health > CAH02-06-01 - health sciences (non-specific)
Divisions:	Life and Health Sciences > Health and Social Care Professions > Health Care
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	15 Oct 2025 10:53
Last Modified:	15 Oct 2025 10:53
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16678

Actions (login required)

View Item