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Table 5 Bivariate analysis of factors associated with differential access to products in the past 3 months

From: Menstrual health management and schooling experience amongst female learners in Gauteng, South Africa: a mixed method study

 

Enough products to last for every period in the past 3 months

 

Yes % (n) 84.79% (379)

No % (n) 15.21% (68)

Total % (n)

100% (447)

Pearson’s chi2P-value

School Quintilea

Quintile 1

86.4% (38)

13.6% (6)

100.0% (44)

P = 0.882

Quintile 2

81.4% (35)

18.6% (8)

100.0% (43)

Quintile 3

84.4% (189)

15.6% (35)

100.0% (224)

Quintile 4

86.0% (117)

14.0% (19)

100.0% (136)

Sanitary product used most oftenb

Disposable pads

88.5% (332)

80.9% (55)

87.4% (387)

P = 0.237

Panty liners

6.1% (23)

10.3% (7)

6.8% (30)

Washable pads

2.4% (9)

5.9% (4)

2.9% (13)

Other

2.9% (11)

2.9% (2)

2.9% (13)

Total

100.0% (375)

100.0% (68)

100.0% (443)

Sources of sanitary products c

Family

86.3% (327)

66.2% (45)

83.2% (372)

P = 0.000

School

31.9% (121)

44.1% (30)

33.8% (151)

P = 0.050

Buy themselves

19.5% (74)

22.1% (15)

19.9% (89)

P = 0.630

Boyfriend

3.2% (12)

4.4% (3)

3.4% (15)

P = 0.599

Household ability to afford products when neededb

Always

74.2% (279)

25.0% (17)

66.7% (296)

P < 0.001

Sometimes

24.7% (93)

73.5% (50)

32.2% (143)

Never

1.1% (4)

1.5% (1)

1.1% (5)

Total

100.0% (376)

100.0% (68)

100.0% (444)

Ever missed school due to periodb

Yes

22.5% (85)

46.3% (31)

26.1% (116)

P < 0.001

No

77.5% (293)

53.7% (36)

73.9% (329)

Total

100.0% (378)

100.0% (67)

100.0% (445)

Average number of days absent last term

Number of days

1.9

1.8

1.9

P = 0.743

95% Confidence Interval

(1.7–2.1)

(1.4–2.3)

(1.7–2.1)

Main reason for missing school because of period in the last termb

Pain

77.4% (65)

51.6% (16)

70.4% (81)

P = 0.008

Not enough products

7.1% (6)

32.3% (10)

13.9% (16)

Tired and uncomfortable

6.0% (5)

3.2% (1)

5.2% (6)

Unclean toilets

4.8% (4)

3.2% (1)

4.4% (5)

Other

4.8% (4)

9.7% (3)

6.1% (7)

Total

100.0%)

100.0% (31)

100.0% (115)

Most common menstrual-related challenges in last 3 monthsb c

Pain and discomfort

59.2% (222)

44.8% (30)

57.0% (252)

P = 0.028

Distracted during class

20.8% (78)

25.4% (17)

21.5% (95)

P = 0.401

None

20.6% (77)

14.9% (10)

19.7% (87)

P = 0.283

Unable to manage flow

19.2% (72)

35.8% (24)

21.7% (96)

P = 0.002

Didn’t go out with friends

18.9% (71)

10.5% (7)

17.7% (78)

P = 0.093

Could not afford products

5.1% (19)

28.3% (19)

8.6% (38)

P < 0.001

  1. P-Values from Pearson’s Chi2 tests show statistical significance of differences between groups
  2. aPercentages shown are calculated as row percentages i.e. as a percentage of the total number of participants in each row of data
  3. bPercentages shown are calculated as column percentages i.e. as a percentage of the total number of participants who 1) had enough products to last for every period in the past 3 months; 2) did not have enough products to last for every period in the past 3 months; and 3) on all participants who answered the question about having enough products
  4. c Participants could choose more than one option. Percentages are calculated on the whole sample. Therefore, percentages should not add to 100%. Pearson’s chi2 p-values are thus calculated separately for each binary (yes/no) variable listed