Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding Menstrual cup Use among Medical and Paramedical Students and Staffs: A Cross-Sectional Study from Eastern India

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Background: Menstrual cups are a safe and sustainable option for menstrual hygiene management, yet their uptake remains limited in India. Aims & Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding menstrual cup use among medical and paramedical students and staff at a tertiary medical college in Odisha, Eastern India. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among females aged 18–45 years using simple random sampling. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire administered via Epicollect-5. Knowledge was measured using a nine-item score and categorized as poor, average, or good. Attitudes and practices were assessed using structured questions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Results: Of 582 approached, 538 were analyzed. Awareness was reported by 79%, but only 15.6% demonstrated good knowledge. MBBS students had significantly higher knowledge scores than Allied Health Sciences participants (5.15 ± 1.93 vs. 2.93 ± 2.68; p < 0.001), while the latter expressed more favorable attitudes. Sanitary pads were the predominant product (96.9%), and only 2.2% reported current MC use. Conclusion: Despite high awareness, menstrual cup use remains low. Targeted educational and behavior change interventions are warranted to improve knowledge and MC use.