ABSTRACT

Research was made as a case-control study for determining the genital hygiene behaviors and the effects of these behaviors on vaginal infections. Universe of the case group is composed of women with the diagnosis of vaginit and universe of control group is women without diagnosis of vaginit. In the data collection phase, questionnaire prepared by consulting the contemporary literature is used as well as Genital Hygiene Behavioral Inventory. GHBI average of case group was found to be 77.41±9.05 and GHBI average of control group was found to be 82.58±9.43 (p<0.05). Among the women’s hygienic habits the following are found to be effective in the development of vaginal infections “to control the genital area for indications of illness”, “to car efor the cleanliness of genital area”, “frequency of changing underwear”, “type of underwear”, “going to a doctor in case of painful and bleeding intercourse”, “cleaning the hands before changing the pad and going to the toilet” (p<0.05). Risk of catching vaginal infection is found to be 4,5 times more for the women who wear synthetical underwear. As a conclusion, it was determined that some mistaken and inadequate genital hygiene behaviors of women increase the risk of vaginal infection.

Keywords: Genital infection, genital hygiene, women’s health, vaginal infection and risk factors