Awareness and Self-Care Practices Regarding Vaginal Candidiasis among Female Students at Bwiru Girls’ and Mwanza Secondary School, Mwanza, Tanzania
Material type:
Item type | Current library | Collection | Status | Barcode | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UNDERGRADUATE DISSERTATIONS | MWALIMU NYERERE LEARNING RESOURCES CENTRE-CUHAS BUGANDO | NFIC | 1 | UD2415 |
Abstract:
Background: Vaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection of the female lower genital tract, the vagina and the vulva predominantly caused by Candida albicans. About 75% of women experience at least one episode of vaginal candidiasis during their lifetime and among these 15% will suffer from a recurrence. Symptoms include whitish-grey vaginal discharge, vaginal pruritus and soreness. Prolonged use of antibiotics, immunosuppression and diabetes mellitus are some predisposing factors to VVC.
Objectives: The study was done to determine the awareness, knowledge and self-care practices assumed by female students at Bwiru Girls’ and Mwanza Secondary School in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study that used convenience sampling in selecting participants. A pretested structured questionnaire was an information collecting tool with questions on awareness, knowledge and self-care practices against VVC.
Results: A total of 300 female students with median age of 18[17-19] years were recruited with ranges from 15 to 21 years. From five students 201(67%) were the majority while the form four were 99(37%). Overall score for awareness, knowledge and self-care practices assumed by female students was poor 122(40.7%), 207(69%) and 144(48%) respectively. About 167(55.7%) had malpractices on genital cleaning, 153(51%) had unhygienic menstrual practices and 172(57.3%) disagreed wearing poorly dried underwear is a risk factors to VVC.
Conclusion: Low levels of awareness, knowledge and poor self-care practices assumed by the female students regarding VVC indicated that they were liable to both VVC and RVVC unless endowed with genuine and convenient information regarding the prevention of VVC.
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