What is the MPQ?

The Menstrual Practices Questionnaire (MPQ) provides a set of best practice self-report questions to capture respondents’ menstrual hygiene practices. That is, all of the activities undertaken in order to collect, contain, and remove menstrual blood from the body.

This is useful when describing menstrual practices among a population to understand or compare the different types of practices being used.

The MPQ is designed to provide a comprehensive pool of questions. Users can select questions that fit best their research needs. Menstrual practices provide information about the menstrual experiences of a population. They may be measured as part of a needs assessment, to describe a population and to consider external validity, and to track changes in behaviours over time.

Publication MPQ Development Paper

A peer-reviewed publication that provides detailed information about the development of the MPQ, including guidance for use and the selection of questions.

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MPQ figure v2

Scoring

There is no scoring for the MPQ. 

The MPQ asks respondents to self-report on their menstrual practices. Data may be used to determine percentages of populations who undertake specific practices, prevalence of specific practices, comparably to other populations. No individual scores are calculated. 

Is the MPQ right for you?

The MPQ is suitable for

  • Describing menstrual practices among a population: this can be useful in needs assessments to understand the different types of practices being used or in research to compare the characteristics of the study population. 

  • To assess changes in menstrual practices over time 

  • To test the association between menstrual practices and health or other outcomes. In particular, investigating the relationships between hygiene behaviours and reproductive tract infections or irritation.

Publication Developing the MPQ

This is a peer-reviewed paper that provides detailed information about the development of the MPQ, including guidance for use and the selection of questions.

View More

Report The association between menstrual hygiene, workplace sanitation practices and self-reported urogenital symptoms in a cross-sectional survey of women working in Mukono District, Uganda

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The MPQ is free to use. You do not need permission as long as you cite the measure in your work.

The measure does not need to be printed in the forms provided. The MPQ is intended as a comprehensive pool of questions. You should only use the questions relevant to your work or research questions. Questions can be incorporated as part of a wider survey. They can be loaded into an electronic software for smartphone or table use. 

Download Download MPQ

Can be used to understand the menstrual practices undertaken in your population for description, to understand behaviours over time, or to test associations between practices and other outcomes.

Download

The Menstrual Practices Questionnaire (MPQ) provides a set of best practice self-report questions that capture menstrual hygiene practices. That is, all of the activities undertaken in order to collect, contain, and remove menstrual blood from the body.

The MPQ is designed to provide a comprehensive pool of questions. You can select questions that best fit your needs. Menstrual practices provide information about the menstrual experiences of a population. They may be measured as part of a needs assessment, to describe a population, to consider external validity, and to track changes in behaviours over time.  

Download

The measure does not need to be printed in the forms provided. The MPQ is intended as a comprehensive pool of questions. You should only use the questions relevant to your work or research questions. Questions can be incorporated into a wider survey. They can be loaded into an electronic software for smartphone or table use.  

The MPQ is free to use. You do not need permission, as long as you cite the measure in your work. 

Measure MPQ

This measure be used to understand the menstrual practices undertaken in your population for description, to understand behaviours over time, or to test associations between practices and other outcomes.

Download

Available translations

We are always willing to review back translated surveys, and would love to share your translation when it is complete; contact us here.