Promoting Urinary Tract Infection Prevention: Knowledge and Practices of Adolescent Girls

Objectives Urinary symptoms are prevalent among adolescents, particularly in females, where inflammation in any part of the urinary system, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, is indicative of a urinary tract infection (UTI). The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge of UTIs among adolescent girls and evaluate their self-reported toilet behaviours that contribute to the prevention of UTIs. Material and Method A descriptive correlational design was employed for this study. A proportionate stratified sampling technique was utilised to select 215 adolescent girls as participants. Data collection was conducted using a self-structured knowledge questionnaire and a practice checklist. Results Among the participants, 51.2% were 17 years old, and 94% reported having a regular menstrual pattern. A significant proportion (85.1%) had a previous history of UTIs, and 94% used sanitary pads. The study revealed that 52.6% of adolescent girls had poor knowledge about UTIs, while 40.9% demonstrated average toilet behaviour practices. A weak negative correlation (r = -0.011) was found between knowledge and toilet behaviour practices among the adolescent girls. There was a significant association between knowledge and practice with selected variables, specifically previous knowledge of UTIs (p = 0.007) and class of study (p = 0.009). Conclusion Although UTIs are often perceived as preventable conditions, they pose a significant challenge to millions of people and subsequently to our healthcare system. Even if students knew about UTIs and methods for prevention, suitable instruction to promote acceptable sanitary behaviours, diet, and lifestyle changes were identified as a need. Informational discussions on UTIs and their risk factors should be conducted periodically among adolescent girls to enhance knowledge and promote UTI prevention techniques.