10.17037/DATA.00005061
Supporting files for a prospective longitudinal study investigating the use and acceptability of reusable menstrual underwear by internally displaced women in Somalia.
The study was comprised of 295 women selected from a random sample who received menstrual underwear with bags for washing and drying. Surveys were conducted by MedAir at and within 12 months of distribution to capture demographics, menstrual practices, use of the menstrual materials, and acceptability or issues with the materials. Data collection took place in July 2024 and from April to May 2025.
This item consists of a Stata DO-file written to analyse factors associated with the use of the menstrual underwear and a dataset codebook that outlines variables used in the analysis. Data that supports the study findings are owned by MedAir and was used under licence for the current study. Researchers may access this data by contacting MedAir directly.
Data that supports the study findings are owned by MedAir and was used under licence for the current study. Researchers wishing to access data should contact MedAir directly to request a copy. MedAir require data to be stored confidentially and only used for the research.
Stata code written to analyse the data are owned by the study authors and are made open access.
Researchers wishing to apply for underlying data associated with the study should request the following variables.
| Variable Name | Variable Label | Answer Label | Answer Code | Variable Type |
| care_group_status | Role in Care Group network | Numeric | ||
| volunteer | 0 | |||
| neighbour woman | 1 | |||
| message_frequency | Does a neighbour come to share messages with you regularly? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| promoter_info | Did a volunteer or promoter share information with you on menstruation in the past 3 months? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| m_healthy | Recall of messages - menstruation is a healthy process | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| m_fertility | Recall of messages - menstruation is part of fertility | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| m_infections | Recall of messages - poor menstrual hygiene can lead to infections | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| m_wash_soap | Recall of messages - washing materials daily with soap | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| m_wb_water | Recall of messages - washing bag uses less water | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| m_db_sun | Recall of messages - drying bag outside in the sun | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| comfort_recieving | Did you feel comfortable receiving the menstrual items from Zamzam staff members? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| water_access | Do you have enough water in your household to wash the underwear? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| soap_access | Do you have enough soap in your household to wash the underwear? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| outcome3months_washingbag | Have you used the new washing bag? (used at 3 months post distribution) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| wb_preference | Would you prefer to use the washing bag, or wash by hand like normal laundry? | Numeric | ||
| Use of washing bag | 0 | |||
| Use of wash by hand | 1 | |||
| outcome3months_dryingbag | Have you used the new drying bag? (used at 3 months post distribution) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| db_ease | Was this easy or difficult to use? | Numeric | ||
| Easy | Easy | |||
| Difficult | Difficult | |||
| recommendation | Would you recommend your friend to use these period underwear? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| past_use_newcloth | Materials used before the distribution of menstrual underwear - Clean cloths | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| past_use_regularunderwear | Materials used before the distribution of menstrual underwear - Regular underwear | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| past_use_disposablepad | Materials used before the distribution of menstrual underwear - Disposable pads | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| past_use_reusablepad | Materials used before the distribution of menstrual underwear - Reusable pads | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| past_use_nothing | Materials used before the distribution of menstrual underwear - Nothing | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| menstrual_material_category | Menstrual material category | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| respondent_id | Respondent ID | Open ended | Integer | |
| years | How many years have you lived in the camp? | Open ended | Numeric | |
| age | How old are you? (yrs) | Open ended | Numeric | |
| income | What is the total monthly income of your household? ($) | Open ended | Integer | |
| underwear_number | If Pair underwear, how many pairs did you receive? | Open ended | Numeric | |
| outcome12months_underwear | During your most recent period, did you use the period underwear? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| used_scrapcloths | Last menstruation used scrap cloths (12 months) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| heavy_bleeding | Does the period underwear work for heavy bleeding days? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| comfort_2 | Is the underwear comfortable to wear? | Numeric | ||
| No, uncomfortable | 0 | |||
| Yes, comfortable | 1 | |||
| reasons_liked_ease | What are the reasons you like using the period underwear? (Easy to use) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| reasons_liked_discrete | What are the reasons you like using the period underwear? (Discrete/private) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| reasons_liked_works | What are the reasons you like using the period underwear? (Works well to catch all menstruation) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| reasons_liked_leaks | What are the reasons you like using the period underwear? (Gives confidence for leaks) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| reasons_liked_comfort | What are the reasons you like using the period underwear? (Comfortable to wear) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| reasons_liked_clean | What are the reasons you like using the period underwear? (Feels clean and dry) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| enough_underwear_2 | Was there enough underwear to allow rotation during washing? | String | ||
| No, not enough | 0 | |||
| Yes, enough | 1 | |||
| wear_normally_2 | Did you (or anyone else in your household) ever wear the underwear when not menstruating? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| outcome12months_washingbag | During your last period, did you use the washing bag? (at 12 months post distribution) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| wb_used_last_reasons_convenient | If yes, what are the reasons you use the washing bag? (Convenient) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| wb_used_last_reasons_private | If yes, what are the reasons you use the washing bag? (Private) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| wb_used_last_reasons_water | If yes, what are the reasons you use the washing bag? (Less water is needed) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| wb_used_last_reasons_handle | If yes, what are the reasons you use the washing bag? (Don't have to touch dirty water) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| outcome12months_dryingbag | During your last period, did you use the drying bag? (Drying bag used at 12 months post distribution) | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| db_used_last_reasons_convenient | Reasons Like Drying Bag - Convenient | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| db_used_last_reasons_private | Reasons Like Drying Bag - Private | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| odour_after_clean | Does the underwear have an odour even after it is clean and dry? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| years_group | How many years have you lived in the camp? | Numeric | ||
| ≤1 | 1 | |||
| 2-5 | 2 | |||
| ≥6 | 3 | |||
| children_group | How many children do you have? | Numeric | ||
| 0 | 1 | |||
| 1-3 | 2 | |||
| 4-6 | 3 | |||
| 7-9 | 4 | |||
| ≥10 | 5 | |||
| edu_temp | What is the highest level of education completed by the head of your household? | Numeric | ||
| No formal education | 0 | |||
| Some formal education | 1 | |||
| taught_binary | Were you taught how to use the items at the distribution time? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| bathe_binary | Bathe frequency during menstruation | Numeric | ||
| Not every day | 0 | |||
| Every Day | 1 | |||
| enough_underwear_binary | Was there enough underwear to allow rotation during washing? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| why_selected_binary | Do you know why you were selected to receive these items? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| completely_dry_binary | Did your underwear get completely dry before you used it again? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| hung_sun_binary | Where menstrual underwear was dried | Numeric | ||
| Outside in the sun | 0 | |||
| Inside in private | 1 | |||
| privacy_sharing_bin | Who else in your household knows you are using new period underwear? | Numeric | ||
| No one | 0 | |||
| Someone | 1 | |||
| wash_frequency_binary | Wash menstrual underwear everyday | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| infection_less | Have you noticed any change in the frequency of infection or irritation since using the underwear? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| privacy_binary | When using this underwear, does it change the privacy of how you manage menstruation compared to other methods you used before? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| convenience_binary | When using this underwear, does it change the convenience of how you manage menstruation compared to other methods you used before? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| married2 | Marital status category | Numeric | ||
| Married | 1 | |||
| Divorced/separated | 2 | |||
| Single | 3 | |||
| Widow | 4 | |||
| income_source2 | Which of the following best describes your household's source of income? | Numeric | ||
| Business, trade, and crafts | 1 | |||
| Agricultural work or production | 2 | |||
| Private sector employment | 3 | |||
| Casual labour | 4 | |||
| Other | 5 | |||
| age_group_2 | How old are you? (categorical) | Numeric | ||
| 14-19 | 1 | |||
| 20-26 | 2 | |||
| 27-33 | 3 | |||
| 34-40 | 4 | |||
| >40 | 5 | |||
| underwear_group2 | Number of pairs of menstrual underwear received | Open ended | Numeric | |
| area_num | Camp (clustering) | Numeric | ||
| Camp 1 | 1 | |||
| Camp 2 | 2 | |||
| Camp 3 | 3 | |||
| income_four | What is the total monthly income of your household? ($) | Numeric | ||
| 0-20 | 0 | |||
| 21-40 | 1 | |||
| 41-60 | 2 | |||
| >60 | 3 | |||
| wb_ease_binary | Reasons Like Washing Bag - Washing bag is easy to use | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| wb_preference_binary | Reasons Like Washing Bag - Prefer the washing bag over hand washing | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| db_preference_binary | Reasons Like Drying Bag - Prefer the drying bag over drying like normal laundry | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| normal_activities_2_bin | During your last period, were you able to do your normal daily activities while using the period underwear? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| wb_water_used_bin | Does using the washing bag change the amount of water you need to use? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| leakage_2_bin | Did you experience any leakage when using the underwear? | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||
| outcome3months_underwear | Have you used the new period underwear during menstruation? (Underwear used at 3 months post distribution) | long | ||
| No, Not yet used | 1 | |||
| Yes, used for 1 or more periods | 2 | |||
| past_use_scrapcloth | Materials used before the distribution of menstrual underwear - Scrap cloths | Numeric | ||
| No | 0 | |||
| Yes | 1 | |||