Factors associated with declining a menstrual cup among female students and their parents in Ugandan secondary schools: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionA greater choice of menstrual products may improve menstrual health (MH). This study assessed factors associated with declining consent to receive a menstrual cup by parents and female students participating in a MH intervention trial in Ugandan schools.MethodsWe analysed baseline data from a cluster-randomised trial evaluating the effectiveness of a multicomponent MH intervention among female students in 60 Ugandan secondary schools. Parental consent and student assent to receive a menstrual cup and training on its use was sought separately from consent from other trial activities. Random-effects logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted OR (aOR) and 95% CIs for factors associated with (i) parents or guardians declining the cup and (ii) students declining the cup using hierarchical conceptual frameworks.ResultsThe baseline trial population comprised 3705 post-menarchal students (mean age 15.6 (SD 0.9 years), of whom 2048 (55.3%) were day students. Among the parents of the 3635 participants aged