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. 2021 Apr 29;18(9):4778.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094778.

Identifying Risk Factors for Lower Reproductive Tract Infections among Women Using Reusable Absorbents in Odisha, India

Padmalaya Das  1 , Danielle Lisnek  2 , Krushna Chandra Sahoo  3 , Shalini Sinha  1 , JyotiRanjan Mohanty  4 , Pranati Sahoo  1 , Bibiana Bilung  5 , Bijaya Panda  6 , Clare Tanton  2 , Belen Torondel  2
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Identifying Risk Factors for Lower Reproductive Tract Infections among Women Using Reusable Absorbents in Odisha, India

Padmalaya Das et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

A large proportion of women in Odisha, India, use reusable absorbents to manage their menstruation. Yet, the risk factors for lower reproductive tract infections (RTIs) related to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) have not been studied among reusable absorbent users. Women of reproductive age attending one of two hospitals from two different cities in Odisha during two separate study intervals were recruited for the study. Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) were conducted. A questionnaire was used to collect information on MHM practices, water, sanitation, and socio-demographic factors. Among the 509 women who used reusable absorbents, 71.7% were diagnosed with at least one infection. After adjusting for confounders, women with BV were more likely to identify as being a housewife (aOR: 1.8 (1.1-2.9)). Frequent absorbent changing was protective against BV (aOR: 0.5 (0.3-0.8)), whereas frequent body washing increased the odds of BV (aOR: 1.5 (1.0-2.2)). Women with VVC were more likely to be older (aOR: 1.6 (1.0-2.5)), live below the poverty line (aOR: 1.5 (1.1-2.2)), have a non-private household latrine (aOR: 2.2 (1.3-4.0)), dry their absorbents inside the house (aOR: 3.7 (2.5-4.5)), and store absorbents in the latrine area (aOR: 2.0 (1.3-2.9)). Washing absorbents outside the house was protective against VVC (aOR: 0.7 (0.4-1.0)). This study highlights the importance of improving MHM practices among reusable absorbent users to prevent lower RTIs among women reusing menstrual materials in Odisha.

Keywords: bacterial vaginosis; candidiasis; menstrual hygiene management; reproductive tract infections; reusable absorbents.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hierarchal conceptual framework.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic diagram for recruitment, enrollment, analysis inclusion, outcome diagnosis, and inclusion in the analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Study population by outcome (N = 509). Circles are proportionate to sample size.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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