Microsoft Word - IJHHS IMAM 23rd ASC 2022


  
 

 S17

A Cross-Sectional Study on Menstrual Health Practice and Needs Among Female Rohingya 
Residing in Malaysia: An Interim Analysis  
  
Muhammad Aqif Badrul Hisham1, Ahmad Rashidi Mohamed Tahir1, Sh Fatimah AlZahrah Syed 
Hussein Al-Attas2, Nur Aizati Athirah Daud3  
 
Objectives: Not much is known about the menstrual practices and needs among Rohingya females 
residing in Malaysia. This knowledge gap needs to be addressed, in line with the efforts toward family 
planning. The objectives of the study are to describe menstrual practices among female Rohingya and 
to assess whether their menstrual needs are met during their last period.  
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving Rohingya females aged 18 to 55 years old attending 
QFFD Clinic run by IMARET in Selayang, Selangor between April to July 2022. Menstrual practices 
and needs were assessed using self-administered questionnaires; the Menstrual Practices Questionnaire 
(MPQ) and the Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36), respectively.   
Results: A total of 40 respondents have completed the questionnaire. Only 42.5% (n=17) of respondents 
have good experiences during their past menstrual cycle despite most of the respondents were able to 
meet their materials and home environment needs (n=27, 67.5%) and are less concerned when managing 
the disposal of their menstrual materials (n=25, 62.5%). Though, only 12.5% (n=5) of respondents have 
their transportation and school environment needs were met during their past menstrual cycle and 37.5% 
(n=15) of the respondents have concerns with the quality of their menstrual materials. The most 
common menstrual materials used by respondents at home and while away from home are disposable 
sanitary pads (n=35, 87.5% and n=36, 90.0% respectively). Many of the respondents prefer to dispose 
them inside the household rubbish bin which is inside the latrine when at home (n=36, 90.0 %) while 
the bin in the public latrine or toilet is used when disposing menstrual materials while away from home 
(n=32, 80.0%).  
Conclusion: Most of the female Rohingya refugees were able to practice safe and clean menstrual 
management. Though, some of their needs were not met, especially during transportation and away 
from home. It is important for non-government organizations like UNHCR to fight for their legal status 
in Malaysia so that they can feel safe and secure without it impacting their health negatively.  
 
Keywords: Menstrual health, Menstrual management, Refugees, Women’s health  

1. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia  
2. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed 
Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, 53100 Kuala 
Lumpur, Malaysia  
3. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, 
Malaysia  

 

 

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Correspondence to:  Nur Aizati Athirah Daud, Lecturer, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 
Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia, aizati@usm.my 
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v7i70.519