Effect of Peer Education on Genital Hygiene Behaviors (Hygiene)

March 10, 2026 updated by: Seçil Hür

Effect of Peer Education on Genital Hygiene Behaviors: A Quasi-Experimental Study

This study examined whether peer education improves genital hygiene behaviors among female university students studying health sciences. Genital infections are common among young women, and there are limited structured educational programs addressing genital hygiene.

The study included 46 female university students and used a pretest-posttest design. Peer educators were selected from among the students and received structured training before delivering genital hygiene education to their peers. Information was collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a validated genital hygiene behaviors scale, both before and after the education program.

After the peer education program, students showed an overall improvement in genital hygiene behaviors, particularly in general hygiene habits. Improvements were more noticeable among students from non-midwifery departments and second-year students. Menstrual hygiene behaviors and awareness of abnormal genital findings did not show significant changes.

These findings suggest that peer education can be an effective and practical approach to improving genital hygiene behaviors among female university students. Peer-led education programs may be integrated into university health promotion activities and reproductive health education.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study used a quasi-experimental single-group pretest-posttest design to evaluate the impact of a peer education intervention on genital hygiene behaviors among female university students in health sciences programs.

Participants were recruited on a voluntary basis. Peer educators were identified using a sociometric selection method and received structured training prior to the intervention. The training program covered topics related to genital hygiene practices, menstrual hygiene, and recognition of abnormal genital symptoms. Following the training, peer educators delivered standardized educational sessions to their peers.

Data collection was conducted at two time points: before the peer education intervention (pretest) and after completion of the intervention (posttest). Data were obtained using a sociodemographic information form and a validated genital hygiene behaviors assessment tool. The intervention was designed to improve knowledge, attitudes, and daily hygiene practices related to genital health.

The primary objective was to assess changes in overall genital hygiene behavior scores following the peer education intervention. Secondary objectives included evaluating changes in specific domains of genital hygiene behaviors. The study did not include a control group.

This record describes a completed study and reflects the final data collection and analysis.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

46

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female university students enrolled in the faculty
  • Able to read and understand Turkish
  • Provided online informed consent
  • Completed all study questionnaires and forms
  • No active or chronic genitourinary disease at the time of enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Male students
  • Students who did not attend or withdrew from the peer education program
  • Students with incomplete or missing data
  • Students with an active genitourinary disease

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Effect of Peer Education on Genital Hygiene Behaviors: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Participants in this single study arm received a peer education intervention focused on genital hygiene and reproductive health. Trained peer educators delivered structured educational sessions covering general genital hygiene practices, menstrual hygiene, and awareness of abnormal genital findings. All participants completed assessments before and after the peer education program.
Other: peer education

This intervention consisted of a structured peer education program on genital hygiene and reproductive health. Peer educators were selected from among the students using a sociometric method and completed a standardized training program prior to the intervention. The training prepared peer educators to deliver accurate and consistent information.

Educational sessions focused on general genital hygiene practices, menstrual hygiene, and recognition of abnormal genital findings. The intervention was delivered face-to-face by trained peer educators using interactive educational methods. All participants received the same educational content.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in total score of the Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale (GHBS)
Time Frame: The period from the initial state before intervention to one month after the completion of the peer education program.
Participants completed the Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale (GHBS), a self-reported measurement tool, under the supervision of the research team. The GHBS assesses routine genital hygiene practices, menstrual hygiene, and awareness of abnormal genital findings. Total scores ranged from 23 to 115; higher scores reflect more appropriate and health-promoting genital hygiene behaviors. Measurements were taken at two time points: baseline (pre-intervention) and 1 month after the end of the peer education program.
The period from the initial state before intervention to one month after the completion of the peer education program.
Change in Genital Hygiene Behaviors
Time Frame: From baseline (pretest) to immediately after completion of the peer education program.
Change in total score of the Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale (GHBS) measured before and after the peer education intervention.
From baseline (pretest) to immediately after completion of the peer education program.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Seçil Hür

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

  • 1. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). Yıl, yaş grubu ve cinsiyete göre nüfus. 2024. Available from: https://l24.im/w3zj 2. Süt HK. 18-49 yaş arası kadınlarda genital hijyen davranışları ile genital enfeksiyon arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. Düzce Univ Sağlık Bilim Enst Derg. 2016;6(1):8-13. 3. Dalbudak S, Bilgili N. GATA kadın hastalıkları ve doğum polikliniğine başvuran kadınların genital hijyen davranışları ve bu davranışların vajinal enfeksiyona etkisi. Gülhane Tıp Derg. 2013;55(4):281-7. 4. Mamuk R, Parlan H, Asif E, Deveci M, Akdeniz E. An assessment of menstrual and genital hygiene behaviours among adolescent females at Gazimağusa, Northern Cyprus. Clin Exp Health Sci. 2022;12(1):185-91. 5. Karadeniz H, Öztürk R, Ertem G. Analysis of genital hygiene behaviors of women who applied to women's illnesses and birth policlinic. J Clin Pract Res. 2019;41(4):402-7. 6. Kartal YA, Engin B, Teke B. Genital hygiene behaviors of midwifery students. Int J Caring Sci. 2020;13(3):2029-36. 7. Bilgiç D, Yüksel P, Gülhan H, Şirin F, Uygun H. Üniversitede yurtta kalan kız öğrencilerin genital hijyen davranışları ve sağlık sonuçları. ACU Sağlık Bilimleri Derg. 2019;10(3):478-85. 8. Parlas M, Eryılmaz G. The effects of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based educational program on genital hygiene behaviors: A randomized controlled trial. Health Care Women Int. 2024;45(9):984-1002. 9. Boyle J, Mattern CO, Lassiter JW, Ritzler MS. Peer 2 peer: Efficacy of a course-based peer education intervention to increase physical activity among college students. J Am Coll Health. 2011;59(6):519-29. 10. Oğul Z, Şahin NH. The effect of an educational peer-based intervention program on sexual and reproductive health behavior. J Adolesc. 2024;XX:1-13. 11. Demirağ H, Hintistan S, Cin A, Tuncay B. Sağlık hizmetleri meslek yüksekokulu öğrencilerinin genital hijyen davranışlarının incelenmesi. Bozok Tıp Derg. 2019;9(1):42-50. 12. Durmuş MK, Zengin N. Kadınların genital hijyen davranışlarının incelenmesi. Sağlı

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 2, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 8, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

August 8, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 10, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • KırklareliU-EBE-SH-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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