Reusable Menstrual Management Products: Perceptions and Use Among Hispanic Women in Puerto Rico ID 2683545

INTRODUCTION: Reusable menstrual products offer much-needed eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives for managing menstruation, yet disposables continue to dominate the market and public awareness. This study aims to explore women’s perceptions and knowledge of menstrual care options, revealing barriers to reusable products and the need for enhanced education. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done using Survey Monkey. A 53-item questionnaire was administered covering sociodemographics, practices, and general knowledge. Recruitment primarily targeted university-aged women (21+) living in Puerto Rico via social media flyers. We employed descriptive statistics for analysis. The research was IRB-approved. RESULTS: Among 208 participants (85% completion rate), 20% combined reusable and disposable products. Motivations included waste reduction (31%), cost savings (26%), and friend recommendations (15%). Intriguingly, a substantial segment (30–44%) of nonusers (66%) expressed a willingness to switch, citing environmental concerns (42%) and desiring a progressive choice (18%). Hindrances to adoption encompassed perceived unhygienic aspects (29%) and lack of awareness (25%). Participants advocated for increased education, with only 12% having received information from their primary care physicians, 50% feeling their physicians lacked knowledge about available products, 81% expressing their doctors should initiate these conversations, and 87% believing menstrual management should be included in school curricula. CONCLUSION: Although the majority of respondents use disposable products, a noteworthy proportion is exploring reusable options or willing to switch to eco-friendly alternatives for waste reduction. Participants highlighted the need for primary care physicians and educators to incorporate menstrual management alternatives in their discussions, which could potentially result in large-scale cost savings and environmental benefits.