Vaginal douching behavior among young adult women and the perceived adverse health effects

Abstract

Several health belief models suggest that health risk perception could enhance behavioral modification to reduce lifestyle-related risks. Perceived health risks associated with vaginal douching (VD), propensity to douche and effects on douching behaviors were assessed in a cross-sectional survey of 1,463 female undergraduates, aged 18 to 35 years, randomly selected in a tertiary institution between 2011 and 2012. A 3-section semi-structured socio-demographic questionnaire on female genital tract hygiene practice was used for data collection. We conducted logistic regression analysis to test for association between douching and perceived health risk. The overall prevalence of VD was 79.2%. Most douchers (79.8%) lacked knowledge of risks associated with VD, 78.3% had misbeliefs about VD, 76.0% accepted the practice, 50.6% would have stopped if they had known the associated risks and 56.4% expressed fear of genital tract infections if they stopped douching. False beliefs and lack of knowledge about the health risks associated with VD increased the odds of douching among douchers (p < 0.05). Low health risk perception and misconceptions about VD are the primary reasons for douching. Therefore, providing health education on the associated health risks of VD to female adolescents and young adult women may help to discourage VD among women in our societies.

Vaginal douching and health risks among young women

“…It is possible that factors such as peer influence, limited knowledge about reproductive health, or misconceptions about hygiene and cleanliness contribute to the higher prevalence of douching among this group. These findings align with previous research, 21 indicating a potential association between educational status and reproductive health behaviors. Moyle 27 and Hionidou 28 attribute this to the influence of advertisements made in the English language.…”

“…These findings align with previous research, 21 indicating a potential association between educational status and reproductive health behaviors. Moyle 27 and Hionidou 28 attribute this to the influence of advertisements made in the English language.…”

“…This could be attributed to the fact that a good number of women elites are found in the United States, enhanced education, and restrictions on the sale of substances used for douching. However, this present study indicated a prevalence comparable to studies conducted in most parts of Africa, such as Nigeria, 80% among adult females, 21 84% and 72% among sex workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and among women attending reproductive health clinics, respectively 22 . According to Bui et al, 23 Obviously, women who engage in sex work encounter multiple sex partners and claim that from time to time, they insert substances to either tighten the vagina or keep it clean and fresh so as to attract more clients 23 .…”

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of cervical cancer prevention among Zambian women and men

“…The knowledge of the respondent with respect to the possible causes (HPV infection, practicing unsafe sex, becoming sexually active at a young age, having a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), having many sexual partners, smoking, using contraceptives, vaginal douching) and protective factors (attending regular screening, HPV vaccination, practicing safe sex, being circumcised, not becoming sexually active at a young age, being faithful to one sexual partner, not smoking, not taking contraceptives, no vaginal douching) of cervical cancer was given a knowledge grade ranging from 1 to 10 points. These causes and protective factors of cervical cancer were identified on the basis of the scientific literature ([44] & [45]; [6, 22, 12]). For further information on the calculation of the knowledge grade, see Nyambe et al [32, 33].…”

Douching practices among women in the Bolgatanga municipality of the upper east region of Ghana

“…Vagina douching (VD) is the process of rinsing the vagina by introducing different kinds of fluids for the purpose of hygiene or therapeutic or contraception [1, 2]. This is a common practice among women all over the world dating back to many centuries with a prevalence of 25% among more developed countries such as Canada and the US to over 90% in less developed countries such as Zambia and Ghana [3, 4]. The prevalence however, varies from region to region and is influenced by certain socioeconomic factors such as race and level of education.…”