Genital Hygiene Practices among Females Visiting a Unani Teaching Hospital in North India

Abstract Background: Genital infections negatively impact personal and sexual life and may lead to complications such as infertility, pregnancy issues, and cervical cancer. Identifying inadequate hygiene practices is essential for improving genital hygiene behaviors. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of genital hygiene among females. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire-based study was conducted in the outpatient department of Amraze-e-Niswan Wa-Atfal at Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, Aligarh Muslim University. A total of 100 female participants were included in the final study sample, with 2 dropouts. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 17.0. Results: Among the 98 women, nearly two-fifths belonged to the 17–25 years’ age group. While 92.8% ( n = 91) responded that they have ever been informed about genital hygiene, only 66.3% knew about the foul smell/odors and different colors of vaginal discharge. Many women ( n = 61; 62.2%) did not know the cause of menstruation. Over 92% of women believed that one should not attend religious ceremonies during menstruation and 82.6% of women reported using sanitary napkins. Conclusion: There is a need to design education interventions on menstrual hygiene in urban settings to prevent genital infections and their related complications.