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Effect of Menstrual Tracking Applications on Menstrual Self-Care Practices among Female Undergraduates in Nigeria

Abstract

Menstrual health is an important component of women's health, yet many female undergraduates may experience challenges related to menstrual hygiene, cycle tracking, menstrual symptoms, and access to appropriate reproductive health information. Menstrual tracking applications provide digital tools that allow users to record menstrual periods, predict expected dates, monitor cycle patterns, document symptoms, and access menstrual health information. Appropriate use of these applications may help female students better understand their menstrual cycles, prepare for menstruation, monitor symptoms, and adopt appropriate self-care practices. However, limited knowledge of menstrual tracking applications, inaccurate interpretation of predictions, privacy concerns, and reliance on digital information without appropriate professional guidance may limit their usefulness. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of menstrual tracking applications on menstrual self-care practices among female undergraduates in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Technology Acceptance Model. The Health Belief Model explains how female undergraduates' perceptions of menstrual health risks, perceived benefits of menstrual self-care, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence their use of menstrual tracking applications and adoption of appropriate self-care practices. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes self-efficacy, observational learning, behavioural modelling, reinforcement, and environmental influences in developing and maintaining healthy menstrual self-care behaviours. The Technology Acceptance Model explains how perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitudes, and acceptance of menstrual tracking technology may influence students' willingness to use these applications. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how menstrual tracking applications may influence menstrual self-care practices among female undergraduates in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise female undergraduate students aged 18 years and above enrolled in selected public and private universities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, universities, faculties or departments, levels of study, and eligible female students. Menstrual tracking application use will be assessed using indicators such as frequency of application use, duration of use, recording of menstrual dates, monitoring of cycle length, tracking of menstrual symptoms, recording of menstrual flow patterns, use of period predictions, access to menstrual health information, use of reminders, monitoring of changes in menstrual patterns, and engagement with application-based menstrual health resources. Menstrual self-care practices will be assessed using indicators such as preparation for menstruation, appropriate menstrual hygiene practices, regular changing of menstrual materials, proper disposal of used menstrual materials, genital hygiene, management of menstrual discomfort, adequate hydration and nutrition, appropriate physical activity and rest, monitoring of unusual menstrual symptoms, seeking appropriate healthcare for persistent or abnormal symptoms, and maintaining adequate menstrual supplies. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, menstrual self-care assessment tools, menstrual tracking application-use records where available, and relevant digital health-use instruments. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize students' demographic characteristics, menstrual experiences, application-use patterns, menstrual health knowledge, and self-care practices. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of menstrual tracking applications on menstrual self-care practices. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, menstrual self-care practice scores before and after introduction or structured use of the application may be compared with those of a comparison group to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that menstrual tracking applications have a significant positive effect on menstrual self-care practices among female undergraduates in Nigeria. Female students who regularly use menstrual tracking applications are expected to demonstrate better menstrual self-care practices than students without comparable use. Tracking applications may help students anticipate menstruation, maintain adequate menstrual supplies, recognize their usual cycle patterns, monitor symptoms, and identify changes that may require professional attention. Reminders and educational features may also encourage students to adopt more consistent menstrual hygiene and self-care practices. However, limited smartphone access, internet or data costs, privacy concerns, inaccurate cycle predictions, limited menstrual health knowledge, cultural beliefs, application quality, and reliance on digital information without professional consultation may reduce the effectiveness of menstrual tracking applications. The study therefore expects accessible, user-friendly, privacy-conscious, and evidence-based menstrual tracking applications, supported by appropriate menstrual health education, to contribute significantly to improved menstrual self-care practices among female undergraduates in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on menstrual health, menstrual tracking applications, menstrual self-care, menstrual hygiene, digital reproductive health, women's health, health education, health promotion, student health, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Education, universities, student health services, healthcare professionals, reproductive health organizations, digital health developers, women's health organizations, development partners, and policymakers regarding the use of digital technologies to promote menstrual health. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating menstrual tracking technologies into broader menstrual health education programmes, promoting responsible use of menstrual health applications, improving access to reliable menstrual health information, strengthening awareness of appropriate self-care practices, protecting users' menstrual and health data, and developing sustainable digital menstrual-health interventions for female undergraduates across Nigeria.

Keywords: Menstrual tracking applications, menstrual self-care practices, female undergraduates, menstrual health, menstrual hygiene, digital reproductive health, women's health, health education, health promotion, Nigeria, public health.