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Determination of Genital Hygiene Behaviors and Risk Factors of Women of Reproductive Age After the Earthquake

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2026

Fatma Keskin Töre ,
Gülçin Nacar ,
Berfin Hatun  and
Didem Şimşek Küçükkelepçe
Fatma Keskin Töre
Affiliation:
Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University , Kahramanmaras, Türkiye
Gülçin Nacar*
Affiliation:
Inonu University , Malatya, Türkiye
Berfin Hatun
Affiliation:
Malatya Education and Research Hospital , Malatya, Türkiye
Didem Şimşek Küçükkelepçe
Affiliation:
Midwifery, Lokman Hekim University , Ankara, Türkiye
*
Corresponding author: Gülçin Nacar; Email: gulcin.nacar@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

This research aims to determine the genital hygiene behaviors and risk factors of women of reproductive age after the earthquake.

Methods

The descriptive and relationship-seeking research was conducted with 296 women reached online in the Malatya province, where the earthquake in Turkey caused heavy damage. Research data was collected using an online survey form created via Google Forms. Data were obtained using the Personal Information Form and Genital Hygiene Behavior Scale.

Results

In the study, genital hygiene behaviors of women with low education level (p = .004), not working (p = .003), sharing underwear (p = .002), having vaginal itching (p = .006), bathing frequency once a week or less (p = .001), bathing while sitting on a stool (p = .001) and having no knowledge about genital infection (p = .001) were found to be inadequate.

Conclusions

In the study, it was determined that the genital hygiene behaviors of women of reproductive age were negative after the earthquake. It is recommended that health professionals should not ignore the adverse effects that may occur on women’s genital hygiene behaviors after disasters such as earthquakes and take the necessary initiatives.

Keywords

earthquakegenital hygienenatural disasterswomen of reproductive age

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 20 , 2026 , e47
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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