Background: Vaginal candidiasis, a common fungal infection, can significantly impact women's reproductive health. Adequate awareness and knowledge of this condition are crucial for its prevention and management. This study assessed the awareness and knowledge of vaginal candidiasis among non-clinical undergraduate female students at Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS) in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the level of awareness and knowledge of vaginal candidiasis among non-clinical undergraduate female students at CUHAS. Additionally, the study aimed to identify sources of information and evaluate knowledge in relation to risk factors, causes, treatment, and prevention of vaginal candidiasis.
Methods: This research employed a descriptive cross-sectional institution-based design conducted at CUHAS between March 2023 and June 2023. The study population comprised all non-clinical undergraduate female students at CUHAS. A sample size of 180 participants was determined using the Kish Lisle formula and selected through random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 20. The study assessed participants' awareness and knowledge of vaginal candidiasis, categorizing knowledge levels as poor, satisfactory, or good.
Results: The study found that 91.1% of the participants were aware of vaginal candidiasis, with educational institutions (46.3%) and hospitals (33.5%) as primary sources of information. In terms of knowledge, 39.6% had poor knowledge of risk factors and causes, while 55.5% had satisfactory knowledge. Only 4.9% demonstrated good knowledge. Knowledge about treatment and prevention was relatively higher, with 65.9% having good knowledge.
Conclusion: This study revealed promising levels of awareness of vaginal candidiasis among non-clinical undergraduate female students at CUHAS, with educational institutions and healthcare facilities playing vital roles as sources of information. However, significant gaps in knowledge regarding risk factors and causes were identified, underscoring the need for targeted educational interventions. The study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and multifaceted awareness campaigns to empower young women in making informed choices about their reproductive health.
P. O. Box 1464, Mwanza – Tanzania Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz www.bugando.ac.tz