Datasheet1_Examining differences in menstrual and intimate care product use by race/ethnicity and education among menstruating individuals.docx

IntroductionUnited States consumers spend over two billion dollars a year on intimate care products. These products, along with scented menstrual products, are marketed for odor control, perceived “freshness,” and vaginal/vulvar cleanliness. However, these scent-altering products may increase exposure to carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Prior research has not adequately characterized demographic differences in product use. The objective of our study is to examine racial/ethnic and educational differences in menstrual and intimate care product use among people who menstruate.MethodsWe pooled data from two US-based cross sectional studies to examine demographic characteristics and product use in 661 participants aged 18–54 years. Participants reported use of scented and unscented menstrual products (tampons, sanitary pads, and menstrual cups) and intimate care products (vaginal douches, sprays, wipes, and powders). We examined differences by race/ethnicity and education using log-binomial regression and latent class analysis (LCA), which can identify groups based on product use patterns.ResultsOur sample was 33.4% Black, 30.9% Latina, 18.2% White, and 16.2% another identity. Approximately half the population had a bachelor's degree or more; 1.4% identified as transgender and 1.8% as non-binary. In adjusted models, scent-altering products (i.e., scented menstrual and intimate care products) were more likely to be used by those with less formal education (p

美国消费者每年在私密护理产品上的支出超过二十亿美元。此类产品，以及带有香味的月经用品，主要市场定位为气味控制、感知的‘清新’以及阴道/外阴的清洁。然而，这些改变气味的制品可能会增加接触致癌和内分泌干扰化学物质的风险。先前的研究尚未充分描绘出产品使用在人口统计学上的差异。本研究的目的是考察月经及私密护理产品使用在月经周期人群中的种族/民族及教育背景差异。方法：我们将来自两个美国基于横断面研究的数据进行整合，以分析661名18至54岁参与者的人口统计学特征及产品使用情况。参与者报告了使用带香味的和无香味的月经用品（卫生棉条、卫生巾和月经杯）以及私密护理产品（阴道冲洗液、喷雾、湿巾和粉剂）。我们通过使用对数二元回归和潜在类别分析（LCA）来考察种族/民族和教育背景的差异，LCA可以根据产品使用模式识别出群体。结果：我们的样本中，黑人占33.4%，拉丁裔占30.9%，白人占18.2%，其他身份者占16.2%。大约一半的人口拥有学士学位或更高学历；1.4%的参与者自称为跨性别者，1.8%自称为非二元性别者。在调整后的模型中，气味改变产品（即，带香味的月经和私密护理产品）更可能被教育程度较低的人群使用（p