Discussions of vaginal douching with family members

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Vaginal Douching Among Secondary School Girls in a Metropolitan City in Ogun State, Nigeria

STUDY OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with vaginal douching among secondary school girls in a metropolitan city in Ogun State, Nigeria.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a semi-structured interviewer-assisted questionnaire adapted from previous studies.

SETTING

Eight secondary schools in a metropolitan city of Ogun State.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 818 secondary school girls aged 10-19 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The outcome of interest was the association between vaginal douching (lifetime) with demographic characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics of respondents' parents, source of information on douching (eg, family members, teachers), and perception about douching and its health consequences.

RESULTS

Mean age of the respondents was 13.9 ± 1.9 years. Most (72.7%) respondents were from co-educational schools; 62.5% were from public schools; 53.2% were day students; and majority (82.0%) were from nuclear families. Prevalence of vaginal douching was 63.8% and the predictors of the practice were respondents' age (OR, 0.2; 95% CI = 0.063-0.603), family setting (OR = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.221-0.819), fathers' occupation (OR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.312-0.953), main source of douching information (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.370-4.192), and perception about douching and its health consequences (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.403-3.523 and OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.236-3.187 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Vaginal douching was prevalent among secondary school adolescent girls in the study area. Factors associated with the practice include age, family setting, fathers' occupation, source of information on douching, perception about douching practice, and perceived health consequences of the practice.

Harmful traditional health practices used by Syrian refugee women in Turkey

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this descriptive study was to determine the traditional health practices used by Syrian refugee women in Turkey.

METHODS

A survey was carried out among Syrian refugee women in the Turkish province of Hatay, which has experienced heavy immigration. The study sample consisted of 75 married Syrian women over the age of 18. Questionnaires were completed during face-to-face interviews and took approximately 60 min.

RESULTS

All the women (100%) reported using a traditional health method in pregnancy; almost all had used a traditional health method during childbirth and the postpartum period (both 98.7%), and to treat a vaginal infection (92.0%) and induce an abortion (93.3%); most used a traditional method of contraception (85.3%).

CONCLUSION

Some of the reported known and used methods are harmless or beneficial to women's health. Some, however, can negatively affect women's health in terms of infection, bleeding and toxicity. In order to eliminate potentially harmful traditional health practices, it is recommended that Syrian refugee women receive health education.

Effect of vaginal douching on vaginal flora and genital infection

Objective:

This study aimed at examining the effect of vaginal douching (VD), which is a traditional and cultural application, on the vaginal flora and genital infections.

Material and Methods:

This descriptive study included 190 women including those who did or did not perform VD. A questionnaire survey and vaginal sampling were employed. The collected samples were transported within 8 h for laboratory testing.

Results:

There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of vaginal flora. In the VD group, only a few patients reported a history of Sexually Transmitted disease (STD), but none in the non-VD group had STDs (p<0.05). No significant difference in infections was noted. However, there was a significant relationship between the history of infections and VD (p<0.01).

Conclusion:

Women who performed VD are at risk for vaginal infections. Further studies are warranted in the future for clinical application.

Prevention practices of vaginitis among Malaysian women and its associated factors

Information on vaginal-related issues among Malaysian women is very limited. This study aimed to explore factors associated with preventive practices of vaginitis among Malaysian women. A cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone interview survey of a representative sample of multi-racial Malaysian women aged 18-50 years old was conducted from January to April 2014. Women from 1446 households responded to the survey and nearly one-third (32.1%) reported to have experienced vaginitis. In multivariate analyses, respondents in the urban locality were more likely to practice vaginitis prevention (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.06-1.84) compared with those in the rural areas. Respondents who perceived low susceptibility to vaginitis were less likely to practice vaginitis prevention (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.57-0.91) compared with responders who highly perceive susceptibility. Respondents who had no formal education were less likely to practice vaginitis prevention (OR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.05-0.48) compared with those with tertiary education. This study showed that comprehensive education and health programmes need to focus on women with a low educational level, living in rural areas and women with low perceived susceptibility to vaginitis. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Little is known about vaginitis issues among women in Malaysia. This study provides information regarding vaginitis among Malaysian women by looking at the factors associated with prevention practices. What do the results of this study add? From our study, factors associated with prevention practices were found to be educational level, locality, and perceived susceptibility of vaginitis. Those who perform fewer vaginitis prevention practices were women with a low educational level and those who live in rural areas. From the Health Belief Model, women with a low perceived susceptibility of vaginitis were less likely to carry out vaginitis prevention practices. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings may provide additional insights for policy makers and healthcare providers to deliver effective approaches in order to improve prevention practices of vaginitis among women in multi-ethnic communities. This study has identified points of interest which need to be put in attention for women's health section which has been overlooked in Malaysia.

Personal Hygiene Practices related to Genito-urinary Tract and Menstrual Hygiene Management in Female Adolescents

PURPOSE

The study was to survey personal hygiene practice related to genito-urinary tract and menstrual hygiene management in female adolescents in order to obtain basic information for health education.

METHODS

With a descriptive survey design, 389 adolescents were recruited via convenience sampling in Korea. Survey instrument was the feminine and menstrual hygiene practice and perception of vaginal douching. Data were collected from a self-administered structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

Mean age of adolescents was 16.09 and menarche was at 13.21. While washing hands after urination/defecation was highly performed, wipe front to back and wash with soap and water were reported as being not well done. Twenty-eight percent reported douching habit. More positive beliefs about douching were reported by adolescents who practiced douching. Menstrual hygiene management was very appropriate with changing sanitary pads regularly with hand washing; but less performed for limiting bathing activity during menstrual periods and washing hands after activity of genito-urinary area.

CONCLUSION

Some adolescents practiced inadequate hygiene practices especially for body cleansing during menstrual period and vaginal douching. It is important to develop and implement school health education programs on feminine and personal hygiene for adolescents to help them perform adequate health behaviors.

Ethnicity, family socioeconomic inequalities, and prevalence of vaginal douching among college students: the implication for health

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the association between ethnicity and family socioeconomic status (SES) as it relates to the prevalence of vaginal douching among female undergraduates in a university community.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional survey conducted between September 2011 and February 2012 among 1,535 female undergraduates using a semistructured behavioral questionnaire adapted by the authors from previous research related to vaginal douching practice.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of vaginal douching was 79.35% and the practice was significantly associated with the mother's age, ethnicity, low SES (educational level, occupation, and monthly income), and area of residence. The father's age and SES were statistically nonsignificant.

CONCLUSION

Ethnicity and low SES of mothers were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of douching in daughters. These factors should be considered among others in any intervention to discourage vaginal douching among college women.