Characteristics of study population*
| Characteristics | Statistics/ category | Control, % (n=200) | Pads, % (n=256) | Cups, % (n=188) | Total, % (n=644) |
| Age in years at enrolment | Mean (SD) | 14.6 (0.7) | 14.5 (0.7) | 14.6 (0.7) | 14.6 (0.7) |
| Age in years at menarche | Mean (SD) | 13.6 (0.8) | 13.7 (0.8) | 13.5 (1.0) | 13.6 (0.9) |
| Number of days of menses | Mean (SD) | 3.7 (1.2) | 3.9 (1.3) | 3.7 (1.5) | 3.8 (1.3) |
| Experience heavy periods | Yes | 41 (20.5%) | 68 (26.6%) | 39 (20.7%) | 148 (23.0%) |
| Experience period cramps | Yes | 129 (64.5%) | 165 (64.5%) | 115 (61.2%) | 409 (63.5%) |
| Ever used pads | Yes | 168 (84.0%) | 198 (77.3%) | 166 (88.3%) | 532 (82.6%) |
| Ever had sex† | n | 194 | 249 | 183 | 626 |
| Yes | 47 (24.2%) | 58 (23.3%) | 58 (31.7%) | 163 (26.0%) | |
| Ever been pregnant | n | 194 | 249 | 183 | 626 |
| Yes | 0 (0%) | 2 (0.8%) | 2 (1.1%) | 4 (0.6%) | |
| Report being married | n | 194 | 249 | 183 | 626 |
| Yes | 3 (1.5%) | 4 (1.6%) | 5 (2.7%) | 12 (1.9%) | |
| Duration of follow-up | Median (IQR) | 10.5 (5.6–12.5) | 11.4 (6.7–12.5) | 10.9 (5.0–12.6) | 10.9 (6.1–12.5) |
*Characteristics reported by 644 participants at baseline survey.39
†626 of 644 answered questions on sex, pregnancy and marriage; ever had sex includes girls reporting having had sexual intercourse, including those reporting tricked or forced to have sexual intercourse; n, number who answered question.