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“Perceptions, Practices, and Challenges Regarding Menstrual Hygiene Among
Women in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Pakistan: A Comparison Between General
Population and Healthcare Workers”
Socio-demographic profile
1. Age: _____ years
2. Education level:
o Uneducated
o Primary (Grade 1 to 5)
o Secondary (Grade 6 to 10/Matric/ O-levels)
o Intermediate (FSC/FA/A-levels)/Diploma
o Graduate
o Postgraduate
3. Education of mother:
o Uneducated
o Primary (Grade 1 to 5)
o Secondary (Grade 6 to 10/Matric/ O-levels)
o Intermediate (FSC/FA/A-levels)/Diploma
o Graduate
o Postgraduate
4. Total family income per month:
o Above PKR 100,000 (1 lac)
o Between PKR 40,000-100,000
o Below PKR 40,000
5. House Structure:
o Pakka (brick built)
o Semi Pakka (tin roofing or sheets)
o Kaccha (no bricks)
6. Marital Status:
o Single
o Married
o Divorced
o Widowed
7. Religion:
o Islam
o Christianity
o Hinduism
Knowledge of the participants regarding menstruation
1. What was your source of general overview and do’s and don'ts of
menstruation?
o Mother
o Grandmother
o Teachers
o Siblings or relatives
o Friends
o Self-knowledge (TV, Books, Internet)
o No-one
2. What was your level of knowledge at the time of menarche?
o I was already aware of periods, knew how to prevent staining my clothes and
knew how to properly place the cloth/ pad
o I was already aware of periods, knew how to prevent staining my clothes but
had no idea of how to properly place the cloth/ pad
o I was aware of periods but didn’t know how to prevent staining my clothes
o I thought I had some disease/ infection
o I thought I had suffered an injury
o I thought I was pregnant
o I was not aware at all and sought elders
3. Are you aware of what a tampon is?
o Yes
o No
4. Are you aware of what a menstrual cup is?
o Yes
o No
5. Do you believe that infrequent menses is a sign of pregnancy?
o Yes
o No
Reactions and practices of the participants pertaining to menstruation
1. For those who are aware of tampons, what is the reason for not using them?
o Unaffordable
o Uncomfortable/ strange to use
o Unavailability in local shops
o Affects virginity
2. Are you able to talk freely with your mother or any relatives about any
gynecological issues?
o Yes
o No
3. Do you avoid taking bath during menses?
o Yes
o No
4. If yes, how many days do you avoid bathing during menses?
o During the first day
o During the first three days
o During all days
5. Please tick the reasons for taking or avoiding bath during menses
For those who take bath:
o Soothes cramps
o Hygienic reasons
o Feel much better after bath
For those who avoid bath:
o Causes cramps
o Causes irregular flow
o Causes water to fill in stomach
o Advised by elders not to take one
6. Do you avoid washing the groin after urination/ defecation?
o Yes
o No
7. Do you stop doing exercise during menses?
o Yes
o No
o I don’t do exercise regularly
8. Do you have any restrictions of activity during menses?
o Yes
o No
9. If yes, which ones?
o Climbing stairs
o Lifting weight
o Walking
10. What were your feelings when you menstruated for the first time? (you can
mark more than one option)
Scared
o Yes
o No
Guilty
o Yes
o No
Upset
o Yes
o No
Anxious
o Yes
o No
Normal
o Yes
o No
Confused
o Yes
o No
Miserable
o Yes
o No
Shame
o Yes
o No
Excited/Delighted
o Yes
o No
11. Which of these do you use during menstruation to avoid staining your
clothes?
o Cloth
o Pads
o Cloth and pads
o Tampon
o Tissue paper
o Cotton
o Menstrual cup
12. For those using cloth, is the cloth:
o Torn from a new fabric
o Torn from an old worn out shirt
13. How many times do you change the menstrual product?
o 4 or more times per day
o 2-3 times per day
o Once per day
o Use 1 for almost 2 days
14. How do you dispose of the menstrual products after using them?
o Bury it
o Burn it
o Flush it in the toilet
o Throw it in waste
o Throw it in sea
o Store it for further use
15. What do you use while taking a bath after your period ended?
o Water only
o Water and soap
o Water and antiseptic
Problems and challenges faced by participants during menstruation
1. Do you abstain from eating certain food items during menses?
o Yes
o No
2. If yes, which of these food items do you abstain from: (you can mark more
than one option)
o Guava
o Papaya
o Oily food
o Pickle
o Meat
o Spicy food
o Curd/ Yoghurt
o Caffeine
o Egg
o Milk
o Fish
o Cold drink/ Cold water/ Ice cream
3. Which one of these complains do you have during menses? (you can mark
more than one option)
Tension or anxiety
o Yes
o No
Poor concentration
o Yes
o No
Abdominal bloating
o Yes
o No
Change in sexual desires
o Yes
o No
Breast tenderness
o Yes
o No
Crying spells
o Yes
o No
Hair fall or dandruff
o Yes
o No
Acne
o Yes
o No
Mood swings or irritability
o Yes
o No
Joint or muscle pain
o Yes
o No
Constipation or diarrhea
o Yes
o No
Appetite changes or food cravings
o Yes
o No
Headache
o Yes
o No
Nausea or vomiting
o Yes
o No
Trouble falling asleep
o Yes
o No
Fatigue
o Yes
o No
Abdominal pain
o Yes
o No
Social withdrawal
o Yes
o No
4. If you experience abdominal pain during menses, what do you do to relieve
it?
o Self-medication
o Consulting a gynecologist
o Herbs/ Homeopathic medicines
o Homemade foods: turmeric milk, tea, hot porridge, soup, hot fluids
o Sleep
o Do nothing
5. Do you avoid taking any medicine during menses? (fear that the menses will
stop)
o Yes
o No
6. Regarding going out of your home during periods:
o I avoid going out because I experience a lot of pain
o I avoid going out because I feel my energy gets low during periods
o I avoid going out because I’m scared of the evil spirits/ black magic
o I avoid going out because I’m scared of staining my clothes accidentally
o I go out of my home without any inhibitions
7. Do you feel that you have a bad odor during periods?
o Yes
o No
8. What is the reason for using cloth/ tissue paper/ cotton?
o Pads are uncomfortable to use
o Pads are unavailable in nearby shops
o Pads are unaffordable
o I feel shy to buy pads because the shopkeepers are male
o I feel shy asking my family men to buy pads for me
9. Have you ever had? (you can mark more than one option)
Any reproductive tract infection
o Yes
o No
Foul smelling/ abnormal discharge
o Yes
o No
Painful sores on pubic area
o Yes
o No
Rashes on pubic area
o Yes
o No
Pain or cramps during periods
o Yes
o No
Early period
o Yes
o No
Delayed period
o Yes
o No
Missed/ infrequent period
o Yes
o No
Light flow
o Yes
o No
Heavy flow
o Yes
o No
No issues
o Yes
o No
10. Did you seek any treatment for these gynecological issues?
o Yes
o No
11. Are there sanitary pads available in your institute/ college/ workplace?
o Yes
o No
o I stay at home
