Table 1.

Survey-Weighted Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics and Use of Feminine Hygiene Products in the Past Month by Race/Ethnicity Among U.S. Reproductive-Aged Women of 20–49 Years, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2004 (n = 2432)

	n	White (n = 1166)	Black (n = 511)	Mexican American (n = 547)	Other Hispanic (n = 107)	Other race/ethnicity (n = 101)	p-Valuea
Age (years), mean (SE)	2432	35.4 (0.3)	34.3 (0.3)	32.6 (0.4)	34.6 (0.9)	33.7 (1.0)	<0.0001
BMI (kg/m2), mean (SE)	2393	27.3 (0.3)	31.2 (0.4)	29.2 (0.4)	29.1 (0.5)	25.8 (0.5)	<0.0001
Educational attainment, %	2431						<0.0001
< HS graduate	572	9	25	47	16	11
HS graduate	544	24	26	21	23	16
> HS graduate	1315	67	49	32	61	73
Income-to-poverty ratio, %	2318						<0.0001
Z	509	13	31	32	27	13
≥1.00	1809	87	69	68	73	87
Pregnancy status, %	2379						<0.0001
Yes	459	5	8	10	2	14
No	1920	95	92	90	98	86
Menopausal status, %	2431						0.09
Premenopause	2198	88	87	94	88	89
Natural menopause	54	3	2	2	6	2
Surgical menopause	179	9	11	4	6	9
Use of feminine hygiene products in the past month, %
Tampon	851	53	36	25	29	33	<0.0001
Sanitary napkin	1320	56	37	67	63	54	0.003
Vaginal douche	408	13	39	13	14	9	<0.0001
Feminine spray	146	4	16	3	11	4	<0.0001
Feminine powder	93	2	11	1	4	3	<0.0001
Wipes/towelettes	251	8	18	11	16	6	<0.0001
Other products	101	0	0	0	0	100	NA

^ap-Values to examine differences by racial/ethnic groups for continuous variables: F-test; for categorical variables: Rao-Scott chi-square test.

BMI, body mass index; HS, high school; NA, not available; SE, standard error.