The Effectiveness of Genital Hygiene Education Given to Secondary School Girls

Objective: The study was conducted to examine the effect of genital hygiene education given to adolescent female students on the genital hygiene behaviors of adolescents. Method: This one-group pre-test post-test quasi-experimental model study was conducted between May 9 - June 7, 2022, with 103 female students who could communicate verbally and who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Genital hygiene training was given to the students. Data were collected using a personal information form and genital hygiene behavior scale (GHBS). Results: The percentage of students who were in the age group of 15-16 years was 64.1%, 75.3% were in the 10th grade, 69.9% had mothers who had completed primary/secondary education, and 50.5% had menarche at the age of 12-13 years. General hygiene, menstrual hygiene, awareness of abnormal findings sub-dimensions and total GHBS scores were found to be statistically significantly higher in the post-test than in the pre-test (p0.05). Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that students had incorrect, inadequate practices regarding genital hygiene, and the education provided increased the correct hygiene behaviors. In line with these results training should be planned to raise awareness on reproductive health, general hygiene, genital and menstrual hygiene, especially in institutions such as schools, hostels and dormitories where adolescent girls are together collectively.