The Relationship Between UTI Related Knowledge and Self-Reported Genitourinary Symptoms Among Female High School Students in North Minahasa, Indonesia

Urinary and genitourinary symptoms are commonly reported by adolescent females, but self-reported symptoms do not necessarily indicate a clinically confirmed urinary tract infection (UTI). This study examined the association between UTI related knowledge and self-reported genitourinary symptoms among female high school students in North Minahasa, Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 413 female students at SMA Negeri 1 Guru Lombok Kalawat. Data were collected using a 12-item knowledge questionnaire and a nine-item symptom checklist referring to the preceding three months. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to examine the association between knowledge and symptom scores. No clinical examination or laboratory confirmation was performed. Most participants (85.5%) were classified as having good UTI-related knowledge. The most frequently reported symptoms were urinary frequency (86.9%) and genital itching (85.7%). Knowledge score was not significantly correlated with the self-reported symptom score (Spearman’s rho = 0.038, p = 0.441; n = 413). In this sample, UTI related knowledge was not significantly associated with the number of self-reported genitourinary symptoms. Because symptoms were self-reported, nonspecific, and not clinically confirmed, the findings should not be interpreted as UTI prevalence. Future studies should use validated symptom measures, shorter recall periods, and collect behavioural and environmental variables alongside clinical assessment where feasible.