MPQ: All Questions
V1.1
The Menstrual Practices Questionnaire
For more information see www.menstrualpracticemeasures.org and the citation below.
Citation for the MPQ: Hennegan, J., Nansubuga, A., Akullo, A., Smith, C., & Schwab, K.J., (2020). The
Menstrual Practices Questionnaire (MPQ): Development, elaboration, and implications for future
research. Global Health Action, 13(1), 1829402. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.1829402
Notes:
1. Question wording and terms should be adapted for different languages and contexts. In particular
“menstrual materials” may need to be replaced with more familiar terminology or could be replaced
using computerised filters to import the menstrual material/s used.
2. All questions refer to the last menstrual period. This can be facilitated through question wording (as
shown below), or the time period could be specified at the start of questioning.
3. Not all questions are applicable for all respondents, appropriate filters should be applied.
4. Question order is presented here according to topic-groupings. The order should be modified as
appropriate for delivery and may be integrated with other survey questions.
Question Response options
Menstrual material use
What were all the materials you used to • Cloth/towel
catch/absorb your menstruation when you were • Disposable sanitary pad
at home during your last menstrual period? • Reusable sanitary pad
• Toilet paper
(select all that apply) • Cotton wool
• Mattress or foam
• Underwear alone
• Natural material (e.g., leaves, sand, grass)
• Period underwear
• Menstrual cup
• Tampon
• Other (specify)
What were all the materials you used to • Cloth/towel
catch/absorb your menstruation when you were • Disposable sanitary pad
away from home [at school/at work] during your • Reusable sanitary pad
last menstrual period? • Toilet paper
• Cotton wool
(select all that apply) • Mattress or foam
• Underwear alone
• Natural material (e.g., leaves, sand, grass)
• Period underwear
• Menstrual cup
• Tampon
• Other (specify)
[Cloth users] Were your cloths bought to be used • Bought to be used during menstruation
for menstruation or used for something else first? • Used for something else first (e.g., clothes, bedding)
(select one) • Don’t know
Did you wash and reuse any of your menstrual • No
materials during your last menstrual period? • Yes
(select one)
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MPQ: All Questions
V1.1
Changing menstrual materials
During your last menstrual period, how many • 1 time (wear until the next day)
times did you change your menstrual material on • 2 times (eg. morning and evening)
the heaviest day of your period? (day = 24 hours) • 3 times (eg. morning, evening and once during day)
(select one) • 4 times (eg. morning, evening, and twice during day)
• More than 4 times
Where did you most often change your menstrual • Latrine
materials when you were at home during your • Bedroom
menstrual last period? • Bathroom/washing space (separate from latrine)
(select one) • Outside/bush/field
• Other (specify)
How often did you change your menstrual • Every day of my period
materials when you were away from your home • Some days
[at school/at work] during your last menstrual • One day
period? (e.g., school, market, working outside the • Never/no days
home)
(select one)
Where did you most often change your menstrual • Latrine
materials when you were away from your home • A bathroom (separate from latrine)
[at school/at work] during your last menstrual • Another room at the location
period? • Outside/bush/field
(select one) • Other (specify)
Handwashing
Did you wash your hands before changing your • Never
menstrual materials during your last menstrual • Sometimes
period? • Every time
(select one)
Did you wash your hands after changing your • Never
menstrual materials during your last menstrual • Sometimes
period? • Every time
(select one)
Genital washing
How often did you wash your genitals during your • At the end of my period only
last menstrual period? • Every 2-3 days
(select one) • Once per day
• Twice per day
• Three or more times per day
When you washed your genitals, did you use • Never
soap? • Sometimes
(select one) • Every time
Disposal of menstrual materials
Where did you most often dispose of your used • Into the latrine/toilet
menstrual materials when you were at home • Burned
during your last menstrual period? • Household rubbish (bin in latrine)
(select one) • Household rubbish (bin not in latrine)
• Taken to community rubbish
• Buried/bush/waterway
• Did not dispose of any materials (including reusables)
• Other (specify)
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MPQ: All Questions
V1.1
Where did you most often dispose of your used • Transported home to dispose or reuse
menstrual materials when you were away from • Into the latrine/toilet
your home [at school/at work] during your last • Bin in the latrine/toilet
menstrual period? • Bin onsite but outside of the latrine/toilet
(select one) • Community rubbish (not onsite)
• Bush/buried/waterway
• Burned
• Other (specify)
When disposing of your used menstrual • No
materials, did you usually wrap them in anything? • Yes, plastic bag, cover of pad
(select one) • Yes, toilet paper
• Yes, cloth
• Yes, other
Storage of menstrual materials
After your last menstrual period, did you keep • No
[store] your menstrual materials? (includes • Yes
leftover disposables or reusables)
(select one)
Where did you store your menstrual materials • Cupboard, cabinet or drawer
after your last menstrual period? • Under bed
(select one) • In the toilet/latrine room
• In a bathroom (not latrine/toilet)
• Other
Did you store your menstrual materials inside any • Wrapped in plastic or in plastic bag (including
wrapping, packaging or case? disposable pads in original packaging)
(select one) • Wrapped in fabric or in a fabric bag
• Wrapped in paper
• Cardboard box
• No wrapping or container
• Other
Washing materials
Did you soak your materials when washing them [Time]
during your last menstrual period? 0 is did not soak
How long did you usually soak them for?
Where did you most often wash your menstrual • Shared bucket (or similar container)
materials during your last menstrual period? • Own bucket (or similar container)
(select one) • Shower/bath
• Sink/basin (inside home)
• Sink/basin (outside home)
• Well, spring, waterway
• Other
Did you use soap or detergent to wash or soak • Never
your menstrual materials during your last • Sometimes
menstrual period? • Every time
(select one)
Drying materials
Where did you most often dry your menstrual • Outside (hanging)
materials during your last menstrual period? • Outside (hidden)
(select one) • Inside (hanging)
• Inside (hidden)
• Other
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MPQ: All Questions
V1.1
When your menstrual materials were drying, did • No
you usually cover them with anything? • Yes
(select one)
When your menstrual materials were drying • Never
during your last menstrual period, were they in • Sometimes
the sun? • All the time
(select one)
During your last period, were your menstrual • Never
materials completely dry before you used them? • Sometimes
(select one) • Every time
Additional sterilisation practices
[Fabric reusables] Did you use an iron on your • Never
menstrual materials before you reused them • Sometimes
during your last menstrual period? • Every time
(select one)
[Menstrual cup users] Did you boil your • No
menstrual cup during [or just before or after] • Yes
your last period?
[Menstrual cup users] How many times did you [number]
boil your menstrual cup?
[Menstrual cup users] How long, on average, did [duration]
you boil your menstrual cup?
Toilet/latrine practice during menstruation
During your last menstrual period, when you • Never
were at home did you use the same location for • Sometimes
urination as when you do not have your • All the time
menstrual period?
(select one)
During your menstrual last period, when you • Never
were at work did you use the same location for • Sometimes
urination as when you do not have your • Every time
menstrual period?
(select one)
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