PHS155 - Assessment of Knowledge of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Amongst School-Going Adolescent Girls

Abstract

The study was designed to evaluate insight about the knowledge of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) amongst school-going adolescent girls. A descriptive study was done with 307 females aged 12-16 years school-going adolescents, where data were collected from the adolescents meeting the inclusion criteria. The girls who are in pre-menstrual phase were excluded from the study. The study was performed using a structured questionnaire of 14-questions that required respondents to anonymously respond questions relating to the knowledge of UTI. Out of 307 school-going adolescent girls, 202 (65.79%) had no knowledge of UTI whereas 105 (34.21%), due to history, had knowledge of UTI. The questions concerning hygiene, it was discovered that out of the total assessed population, 121(39.41%) wash their vaginal area after urination whereas 186 (60.58%) are not washing. Further 270(87.94%) girls change sanitary pads more than one time in a day during menstruation. It is also found that 156(50.81%) girls consult physician if UTI symptoms occur. Based on fallout from the study, there are still major gaps in the knowledge about UTI and many of the school-going adolescent girls though unaware, are at high risk of UTI. Ignorance of hygiene, symptoms and risk factors may front to unidentified cases of UTI and likely go on without medical intervention thus degenerating into serious urinary and genital tract complications. This calls for an urgent need for educational talks periodically addressing these gaps.