Araştırma Makalesi
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Determination of Genital Hygiene Behaviors of Women Working in a Factory and Associated Factors

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2, 148 - 158, 17.07.2025

Sena Kaba , Nilgün Kuru Alıcı

Öz

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the genital hygiene behaviors of women employed in a factory in Türkiye, identifying individual (age, education, income) and environmental (workplace hygiene conditions) factors influencing these behaviors. It also seeks to assess how workplace hygiene impacts women’s health and to propose practical recommendations for occupational health nurses.
Material and Methods: : This descriptive study was conducted with 181 women working in a factory, selected through purposive sampling, between September 1, 2022, and May 1, 2023. Data were collected through a researcher-developed Personal Information Form and the Genital Hygiene Behavior Inventory. Descriptive statistics (mean, percentage) were used, and independent samples t-tests, chi-square tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted for group comparisons.
Results: The mean the Genital Hygiene Behavior Inventory score was 50.65±0.78, indicating suboptimal genital hygiene behaviors. Significant relationships were found between Genital Hygiene Behavior Inventory scores and factors such as parental status, shift hours, income level, menstrual product affordability, and factory toilet hygiene (p<0.05).
Conclusions: It is recommended that occupational health nurses conduct targeted education programs and collaborate with employers to improve workplace hygiene conditions and provide access to menstrual products.
Implication for nursing practice/management or policy: Occupational health nurses should develop workplace-specific education programs to promote genital hygiene and advocate for access to menstrual products. Collaboration with employers is essential to improve sanitation conditions and support women’s reproductive health in industrial settings.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Genital hygiene Occupational health Working woman

Kaynakça

  • Bhilwar, M., Lal, P., Sharma, N., Bhalla, P., & Kumar, A. (2015). Prevalence of reproductive tract infections and their determinants in married women residing in an urban slum of North-East Delhi, India. Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, 6(1), 29–34. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-9668.166059
  • Bowen, V., Braxton, J., Davis, D., … & Womack, N. (2019). Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2018. https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc.79370
  • Cangöl, E., & Tokuç, B. (2013). Jinekoloji polikliniğine başvuran kadınlarda genital enfeksiyon sıklığı ve genital hijyen davranışları. Florence Nightingale Hemşirelik Dergisi, 21(2), 85–91.
  • Ege, E., & Eryılmaz, G. (2005). Genital hijyen davranış envanteri. [Genital hygiene behavior inventory]. Anadolu Hemşirelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(3), 67–75.
  • Fry, W., Njagi, J. W., Houck, F., Avni, M., & Krishna, A. (2022). Improving women’s opportunities to succeed in the workplace: Addressing workplace policies in support of menstrual health and hygiene in two Kenyan Factories. Sustainability, 14(8), 4521. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084521
  • Gocmen, E., Kalender, G., Foggo, H., Yuksel, S., Sener, S., & Duman, S. (2020). Derin Yoksulluk Ağı. Pandemi döneminde derin yoksulluk ve haklara erişim araştırması [Deep Poverty Network. Research on deep poverty and access to rights during the pandemic period]. https://derinyoksullukagi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Pandemi-doneminde-derin-yoksulluk-ve-haklara-erisim-arastirmasi-Yerel-Yonetimlere-Kriz-Donemi-Sosyal-Destek.pdf
  • Gözüyeşil, E. (2020). Investigation of genital hygiene behavior: An example of slum area. Ortadoğu Tıp Dergisi, 12(2), 186–193. https://doi.org/10.21601/ortadogutipdergisi.715599
  • Hamed, A. G. (2015). he impact of genital hygiene practices on the occurrence of vaginal infection and the development of a nursing fact sheet as prevention massage for vulnerable women. IOSR-JNHS, 4(6), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.9790/1959-04655564
  • Karatay, G. (2006). Bir Sağlık Merkezi Bölgesindeki Gecekondularda Yaşayan Kadınların Genital Hijyene İlişkin Uygulamalarının Değerlendirilmesi. Özvarış, Ş.B, 10(1), 7–14.
  • Kula Ulu, M. (2019). Tarım ve hayvancılıkla uğraşan evli kadınların genital hijyen davranışları ve vajinal enfeksiyon semptomlarının görülme sıklığını belirlenmesi [Determining the frequency of genital hygiene behaviors and vaginal infection symptoms of married women engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry] [Master thesis]. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi.
  • Kurt Durmus, M., & Zengin, N. (2020). Kadınların genital hijyen davranışlarının incelenmesi. Sağlık Profesyonelleri Araştırma Dergisi, 2(3), 113–120.
  • Moran, J., Fitch, T. J., Villanueva, G., Quadir, M. M., Chien, L.-C., & Alamgir, H. (2020). Urinary symptoms and infections among female garment factory workers in Bangladesh. Work, 65(4), 847–856. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-203136
  • Nikpour, M., Tirgar, A., Ghaffari, F., Ebadi, A., Amiri, F. N., & Firouzbakht, M. (2020). Reproductive health problems among female shift workers: A qualitative study in Iran. Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction, 49(8), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2019.101653
  • Nkamedjie Pete, P. M., Mabvouna Biguioh, R., Bita Izacar, A. G., Béchir Adogaye, S. Ben, & Nguemo, C. (2019). Genital hygiene behaviors and practices: A cross-sectional descriptive study among antenatal care attendees. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2019.746
  • Okonkwo, N., & Umeanaeto, P. (2011). Prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women in Nnewi Town of Anambra State, Nigeria. African Research Review, 4(4), 539–548. https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v4i4.69250
  • Özkan, E., & Tosun, H. (2022). Kadın doğum polikliniğine başvuran kadınlarda genital hijyen davranışları ve ilişkili faktörlerin incelenmesi. STED / Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi, 31(6), 418–427. https://doi.org/10.17942/sted.1021695
  • Sommer, M., Chandraratna, S., Cavill, S., Mahon, T., & Phillips-Howard, P. (2016a). Managing menstruation in the workplace: an overlooked issue in low- and middle-income countries. International Journal for Equity in Health, 15(1), 86. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0379-8
  • Sommer, M., Torondel, B., Hennegan, J., Phillips-Howard, P. A., Mahon, T., Motivans, A., Zulaika, G., Gruer, C., Haver, J., & Caruso, B. A. (2021). How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. Global Health Action, 14(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1920315
  • T.R. Ministry of Health. (2011, April). İş sağlığı hemşiresi, görev yetki ve sorumlulukları [Occupational health nurse, duties, powers and responsibilities]. https://www.thder.org.tr/uploads/hukuk/yonetmelikler/27910.pdf
  • Umami, A., Paulik, E., Molnár, R., & Murti, B. (2022). The relationship between genital hygiene behaviors and genital infections among women: A systematic review. In Jurnal Ners (Vol. 17, Issue 1, pp. 89–101). Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga. https://doi.org/10.20473/jn.v16i1.34402
  • United Nations Development Program Turkey. (2023). Sürdürülebilir kalkınma için küresel amaçlar [Global goals for sustainable development]. Birleşmiş Milletler Türkiye. https://turkiye.un.org/tr/sdgs/3
  • Yesilcicek Calik, K., Erkaya, R., Ince, G., & Korkmaz Yildiz, N. (2020). Genital hygiene behaviors of women and their effect on vaginal infections. Clin Exp Health Sci , 10(3), 210–216. https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.565845

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2, 148 - 158, 17.07.2025

Sena Kaba , Nilgün Kuru Alıcı

Öz

Kaynakça

  • Bhilwar, M., Lal, P., Sharma, N., Bhalla, P., & Kumar, A. (2015). Prevalence of reproductive tract infections and their determinants in married women residing in an urban slum of North-East Delhi, India. Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, 6(1), 29–34. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-9668.166059
  • Bowen, V., Braxton, J., Davis, D., … & Womack, N. (2019). Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2018. https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc.79370
  • Cangöl, E., & Tokuç, B. (2013). Jinekoloji polikliniğine başvuran kadınlarda genital enfeksiyon sıklığı ve genital hijyen davranışları. Florence Nightingale Hemşirelik Dergisi, 21(2), 85–91.
  • Ege, E., & Eryılmaz, G. (2005). Genital hijyen davranış envanteri. [Genital hygiene behavior inventory]. Anadolu Hemşirelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(3), 67–75.
  • Fry, W., Njagi, J. W., Houck, F., Avni, M., & Krishna, A. (2022). Improving women’s opportunities to succeed in the workplace: Addressing workplace policies in support of menstrual health and hygiene in two Kenyan Factories. Sustainability, 14(8), 4521. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084521
  • Gocmen, E., Kalender, G., Foggo, H., Yuksel, S., Sener, S., & Duman, S. (2020). Derin Yoksulluk Ağı. Pandemi döneminde derin yoksulluk ve haklara erişim araştırması [Deep Poverty Network. Research on deep poverty and access to rights during the pandemic period]. https://derinyoksullukagi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Pandemi-doneminde-derin-yoksulluk-ve-haklara-erisim-arastirmasi-Yerel-Yonetimlere-Kriz-Donemi-Sosyal-Destek.pdf
  • Gözüyeşil, E. (2020). Investigation of genital hygiene behavior: An example of slum area. Ortadoğu Tıp Dergisi, 12(2), 186–193. https://doi.org/10.21601/ortadogutipdergisi.715599
  • Hamed, A. G. (2015). he impact of genital hygiene practices on the occurrence of vaginal infection and the development of a nursing fact sheet as prevention massage for vulnerable women. IOSR-JNHS, 4(6), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.9790/1959-04655564
  • Karatay, G. (2006). Bir Sağlık Merkezi Bölgesindeki Gecekondularda Yaşayan Kadınların Genital Hijyene İlişkin Uygulamalarının Değerlendirilmesi. Özvarış, Ş.B, 10(1), 7–14.
  • Kula Ulu, M. (2019). Tarım ve hayvancılıkla uğraşan evli kadınların genital hijyen davranışları ve vajinal enfeksiyon semptomlarının görülme sıklığını belirlenmesi [Determining the frequency of genital hygiene behaviors and vaginal infection symptoms of married women engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry] [Master thesis]. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi.
  • Kurt Durmus, M., & Zengin, N. (2020). Kadınların genital hijyen davranışlarının incelenmesi. Sağlık Profesyonelleri Araştırma Dergisi, 2(3), 113–120.
  • Moran, J., Fitch, T. J., Villanueva, G., Quadir, M. M., Chien, L.-C., & Alamgir, H. (2020). Urinary symptoms and infections among female garment factory workers in Bangladesh. Work, 65(4), 847–856. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-203136
  • Nikpour, M., Tirgar, A., Ghaffari, F., Ebadi, A., Amiri, F. N., & Firouzbakht, M. (2020). Reproductive health problems among female shift workers: A qualitative study in Iran. Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction, 49(8), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2019.101653
  • Nkamedjie Pete, P. M., Mabvouna Biguioh, R., Bita Izacar, A. G., Béchir Adogaye, S. Ben, & Nguemo, C. (2019). Genital hygiene behaviors and practices: A cross-sectional descriptive study among antenatal care attendees. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2019.746
  • Okonkwo, N., & Umeanaeto, P. (2011). Prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women in Nnewi Town of Anambra State, Nigeria. African Research Review, 4(4), 539–548. https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v4i4.69250
  • Özkan, E., & Tosun, H. (2022). Kadın doğum polikliniğine başvuran kadınlarda genital hijyen davranışları ve ilişkili faktörlerin incelenmesi. STED / Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi, 31(6), 418–427. https://doi.org/10.17942/sted.1021695
  • Sommer, M., Chandraratna, S., Cavill, S., Mahon, T., & Phillips-Howard, P. (2016a). Managing menstruation in the workplace: an overlooked issue in low- and middle-income countries. International Journal for Equity in Health, 15(1), 86. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0379-8
  • Sommer, M., Torondel, B., Hennegan, J., Phillips-Howard, P. A., Mahon, T., Motivans, A., Zulaika, G., Gruer, C., Haver, J., & Caruso, B. A. (2021). How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. Global Health Action, 14(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1920315
  • T.R. Ministry of Health. (2011, April). İş sağlığı hemşiresi, görev yetki ve sorumlulukları [Occupational health nurse, duties, powers and responsibilities]. https://www.thder.org.tr/uploads/hukuk/yonetmelikler/27910.pdf
  • Umami, A., Paulik, E., Molnár, R., & Murti, B. (2022). The relationship between genital hygiene behaviors and genital infections among women: A systematic review. In Jurnal Ners (Vol. 17, Issue 1, pp. 89–101). Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga. https://doi.org/10.20473/jn.v16i1.34402
  • United Nations Development Program Turkey. (2023). Sürdürülebilir kalkınma için küresel amaçlar [Global goals for sustainable development]. Birleşmiş Milletler Türkiye. https://turkiye.un.org/tr/sdgs/3
  • Yesilcicek Calik, K., Erkaya, R., Ince, G., & Korkmaz Yildiz, N. (2020). Genital hygiene behaviors of women and their effect on vaginal infections. Clin Exp Health Sci , 10(3), 210–216. https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.565845
Toplam 22 adet kaynakça vardır.

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil İngilizce
Konular Halk Sağlığı Hemşireliği
Bölüm Research Article
Yazarlar

Sena Kaba 0000-0003-3172-3482

Nilgün Kuru Alıcı 0000-0002-5200-6821

Yayımlanma Tarihi 17 Temmuz 2025
Gönderilme Tarihi 28 Ağustos 2024
Kabul Tarihi 19 Mart 2025
Yayımlandığı Sayı Yıl 2025 Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2

Kaynak Göster

APA Kaba, S., & Kuru Alıcı, N. (2025). Determination of Genital Hygiene Behaviors of Women Working in a Factory and Associated Factors. Global Nursing Insights, 12(2), 148-158.
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