Evaluation of the vaginal douche habits of women visiting at the family planning centre in Eskisehir (Turkey)

H. Karabagli, D. Arslantas, S. Metintas, S. Ozalp

The Office of Mother/Child Health and Family Planning Services, Eskisehir, Turkey, Eskisehir-Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Department of Public Health, Eskisehir, Turkey, Eskisehir-Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Department of Public Health, Eskisehir, Turkey, and Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Gynecology and Obstetric, Eskisehir, Turkey

Objectives This study was conducted in the Family Planning Centre in Eskisehir to evaluate the vaginal douche habits of women turning up at the Advisory Clinic. 

Design and methods This study was conducted between March and May 2005 in the Advisory Clinic with a face-to-face questionaire. The survey form had the womens sociodemographical features, wheather or not they had the habit of vaginal douche, if so from whom they had learnt this habit, in what purpose and how it was applied.

Results The mean age of 61 women in the study was 31.68 _+7.59 ( min 19, max 48 ). 37 (60.6 % ) of women had primary school education, 16 (26.2 %) of them high school education, 8 (13.2 %) of them graduated from university. 49 (80.3 %) of women were House-wife and 12 (19.7 %) of them were working women. The contraseptive method used: nothing 8 (13.1 % ), coitus interruptus 15 ( 24.5 % ), preservative 3 (5.0 %), OKS 28 (46.0 % ), IUD 3 (5.0 % ), DMPA 4 (6.4 % ). There wasn' t a significant difference between education and age with contraseptive method used ( p>0.05 ). Of the 33 (54.1%) women were found the vaginal douche habit. There wasn't a significant difference between house-wife (55.1 %) and working women (50.0 %) (p>0.05) for vaginal douche habit. The percentage of vaginal douche habit decreased with the increasing of education years ( p=0.04 ). The reason for applying this habit was asked: 33 (100.0 %) said for cleaning , 20 (60.6 %) for religious reasons, 6 (18.1 % ) for contraseption, 18 (55.0 % ) for cleaning and religious means. 6 of the women had vaginal douche habit only after intercourse, 27 after menstruation and intercourse. This habit was learnt from family elders (57.5 %), from themselves (30.3 %) and in third order from their friends (12.2 %). There wasn't a meaningful relation between this habit and the repetion of applying to our Clinic ( p> 0.05 ). Of the 21 women said they had vaginal discharge, when asked. There wasn't a relation with vaginal douche habit and vaginal discharge (p> 0.05 ).

Conclusions This habit was often come up to in our Clinic. There was a decrease in using this habit with the years of education wich is important. There must be a continuing education program in order to explain the vaginal douche habit to the public.