Determination of menstrual symptoms and genital hygiene behaviors of female healthcare professionals after the earthquake in Türkiye

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe the post-earthquake menstrual symptoms, genital hygiene behaviors and the relationship between them among female healthcare workers who experienced the devastating earthquake in February 2023.

Methods

The sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consists of female healthcare professionals working in a public hospital in Iskenderun. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews between June 7 and September 7, 2023. Sociodemographic Form, Menstrual Symptom Scale, and Genital Hygiene Scale were used as data collection tools.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 34.07 ± 8.08. Before the earthquake, 81.5% had regular menses, while in 58.6% of them the pattern of menses changed after the earthquake. It was found that there was a negative and weakly significant relationship between the total mean scores of “Menstrual Symptom Scale” and “Genital Hygiene Scale” (p < 0.05). Significant differences were found between “age,” “perceived income level,” “marital status,” and “experiencing women's health problems after the earthquake” with menstrual symptoms. Additionally, significant differences were observed between “changes in menstrual regulation after the earthquake,” “the major earthquake's impact on the availability of hygienic products,” and genital hygiene behaviors (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

It was determined that the menstrual symptoms experienced by health workers after the earthquake were above moderate severity and their genital hygiene behaviors were less positive. Furthermore, genital hygiene behaviors were more negatively affected as the severity of menstrual symptoms increased.