Journal List > Korean J Women Health Nurs > v.19(4) > 1089457

Sukhee: Feminine Hygiene and Vaginal Douche Practices in Middle-aged Women

Abstract

Purpose

The study was done to survey feminine hygiene and vaginal douche practices in middle-aged women to obtain basic information for public health education.

Methods

With a descriptive survey design, 134 middle-aged women who have menstrual period were recruited via convenience sampling. Survey contents were from the study by Czerwinski (2000) regarding feminine hygiene and vaginal douching practices. After obtaining IRB approval, a self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed to study participants.

Results

Mean age of middle-aged women was 46.88 years old. Fifty-six percent of the women practiced vaginal douching. Women performed douching with water (68%), commercial products (13%), soap (12%), and vinegar-mixed water (6%) for clean and fresh feeling, removal of unpleasant odor, and removal of vaginal discharge. Vaginal douche practice was significantly related to a history of vaginitis.

Conclusion

The study results indicate that most of the women practiced inadequate feminine hygiene especially in douching, suggesting that is important to develop education programs on feminine hygiene practices for women of all ages, especially regarding douching and hand washing before and after changing pads or tampons.

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Table 1.
Subjects' Characteristics and Vaginal Douche Practice (N=134)
Variables Categories n (%) M±SD
Age (year) ≤49 93 (69.4) 46.88±4.50
  ≥50 41 (30.6)  
Education ≤Middle school 3 (2.2)  
  High school 12 (9.0)  
  College to university 86 (64.2)  
  Graduate school 33 (24.6)  
Marital status Married 123 (91.8)  
  Separated, divorced, widowed, or single 11 (8.2)  
Number of children     1.93±0.39
Menarche     15.17±1.32
Number of pregnancy     2.76±1.23
Number of delivery     2.05±0.70
Sexually active Yes 123 (91.8)  
  No 11 (8.2)  
History of sexually transmitted disease Yes 6 (4.5)  
  No 128 (95.5)  
History of vaginitis Yes 27 (20.1)  
  No 117 (79.9)  
Vaginal douche Performed 75 (56.0)  
  Not performed 59 (44.0)  
Women with douche (n=75)      
Reason Feeling clean and fresh 46 (61.3)  
  Get rid of an unpleasant odor 14 (18.7)  
  Reduction of leukorrhea 6 (8.0)  
  After sex 5 (6.7)  
  After period 4 (5.3)  
Product to use Water 51 (68.0)  
  Water with solution from commercial products 10 (13.3)  
  Soap solution 9 (12.0)  
  Water with vinegar 5 (6.7)  
Frequency Once a week 18 (24.0)  
  2~3 times per week 20 (26.7)  
  4~6 times per week 17 (22.7)  
  7 times per week 20 (26.7)  
Table 2.
Difference in Perception about Vaginal Douche and History of Reproductive Health according to Vaginal Douche Performance (N=134)
Variables Categories   Total Vaginal douche x2 (p)
  Yes (n=75) No (n=59)
n (%) n (%) n (%)
Perception about Douching is done after period is Yes 68 (50.7) 42 (56.0) 26 (44.1) 1.88 (.223)
vaginal douche over No 66 (49.3) 33 (44.0) 33 (55.9)  
  Douching is done after sex Yes 66 (49.3) 43 (57.3) 23 (39.0) 4.45 (.035)
    No 68 (50.7) 32 (42.7) 36 (61.0)  
  Douching can wash out vaginal Yes 106 (79.1) 64 (85.3) 42 (71.2) 4.00 (.046)
  discharge No 28 (20.9) 11 (14.7) 17 (28.8)  
  Douching can get rid of vaginal Yes 111 (82.8) 62 (82.7) 49 (83.1) 0.01 (.953)
  odor No 23 (17.2) 13 (17.3) 10 (16.9)  
  Vaginal discharge is normal Yes 121 (90.3) 67 (89.3) 54 (91.5) 0.18 (.670)
    No 13 (9.7) 8 (10.7) 5 (8.5)  
  Douching is not necessary Yes 40 (29.9) 21 (28.0) 19 (32.2) 0.28 (.598)
    No 94 (70.1) 54 (72.0) 40 (67.8)  
  I have ever read a book or Yes 37 (27.6) 24 (32.0) 13 (22.0) 1.64 (.200)
  booklet to avoid douching No 97 (72.4) 51 (68.0) 46 (78.0)  
History of Sexual intercourse Yes 123 (91.8) 70 (93.3) 53 (89.8) 0.53 (.535)
reproductive health   No 11 (8.2) 5 (6.7) 6 (10.2)  
  History of sexual transmitted Yes 6 (4.5) 5 (6.7) 1 (1.7) 1.90 (.229)
  disease No 128 (95.5) 70 (93.3) 58 (98.3)  
  History of vaginitis Yes 27 (20.1) 20 (26.7) 7 (11.9) 4.49 (.034)
    No 107 (79.9) 55 (73.3) 52 (88.1)  

Fisher's exact test.

Table 3.
Unadjusted Odds Ratio for Vaginal Douching associated with History of Vaginitis (N=134)
Variable B SE Wald df p Exp (B) 95% CI
Lower Higher
(Constant) -2.00 .40 24.81 1 <.001 0.13    
Vaginal douching (1=yes) 0.99 .48 4.28 1 .038 2.70 1.05 6.91

CI=confidence interval.

Table 4.
Feminine Hygiene Practice (N=134
Practice Categories Never used a product or practice Ever used a product or practice
n (%) n (%)
I. Body-cleansing practice 1 Bathtub 34 (25.4) 100 (74.6)
  2 Shower - 134 (100.0)
  3 Bidet 67 (50.0) 67 (50.0)
  4 Handheld showerhead 10 (7.5) 124 (92.5)
  5 Sponge bath 8 (6.0) 124 (94.0)
II. Feminine products usage and practice 6 Internal douche 59 (44.0) 75 (56.0)
  7 Panty liners 57 (42.5) 77 (57.5)
  8 Disposable briefs 115 (85.8) 19 (14.2)
  9 Feminine deodorant spray 115 (85.8) 19 (14.2)
  10 Deodorant, vaginal (tabs/supp.) 123 (91.8) 11 (8.2)
  11 OTC anti-itch products 111 (82.8) 23 (17.2)
  12 Wet wipes 107 (79.9) 27 (20.1)
  13 Wipe front to back 24 (17.9) 110 (82.1)
  14 Wash with soap and water 48 (35.8) 86 (64.4)
  15 Blotting 101 (75.4) 33 (24.6)
  16 Wash hands after urination/defecation 10 (7.5) 124 (92.5)
III. General menses collection and protection practice 17 Nature sea sponges 103 (76.9) 31 (23.1)
  18 Reusable cotton pads 93 (69.4) 41 (30.6)
  19 Tampons 110 (82.1) 24 (17.9)
  20 Pads (sanitary) 14 (10.4) 120 (89.6)
  21 Tampons/pads combination 102 (76.1) 32 (23.9)
  22 Panty liners 61 (45.5) 73 (54.5)
  23 Tampons/pads between periods 115 (85.8) 19 (14.2)
  24 Wash hands after activity to genito-urinary area 36 (26.9) 98 (35.1)
  25 Limiting bathing activity during menses 32 (23.9) 102 (76.1)
IV. Specific menses collection and protection practice 26 If tampons used, change every 6 hours 18 (64.3) 10 (35.7)
  27 Wash hands before inserting tampon 17 (60.7) 11 (39.3)
  28 Wash hands after inserting tampon 16 (57.1) 12 (32.9)
  29 If pads used, change every 6 hours 10 (8.7) 104 (91.3)
  30 Wash hands before changing pads 24 (21.0) 90 (79.0)
  31 Wash hands after changing pads 8 (7.0) 106 (93.0)

Tampon user=28;

Menstrual pad user=114.

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