الفهرس 
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Abstract
Genital tract infections (GTIs) are a universal public health problem, mainly neglected by many women. Since a great proportion of women suffer morbidity silently, and are reluctant to seek care (Balamurugan & Bendigeri, 2018). As females in childbearing age are often victims of diverse gynecological morbidities, nurses can take an active part in empowering and educating them to avoid and fighting GTIs through improving their awareness and illustrating the misconceptions as regards GTIs (Ching, 2018 & Rabieipoor et al., 2015).
Aim of the study:
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational program on women’s awareness and practice regarding genital tract infection.
Research hypothesis:
Educational program will affect positively on women’s awareness and practice regarding genital tract infection.
A- Research design:
A quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effect of an educational program on women’s awareness and practice regarding genital tract infection in Bab El-sharia University Hospital, Al-Azhar University (Out-patient Gynecological Clinic).
B-Setting:
The study was conducted at the Out-patient Gynecological Clinic, Bab El-sharia University Hospital, Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
C-Subjects:
The actual sample size (170) that was selected from the total number (200) after filling in questionnaires (those who are suffering from different symptoms of genital tract infections).
Sample criteria:
The sample was selected in the study according to certain criteria: women suffering from GTIs who will attend Out-patient Gynecological Clinic for a checkup and follow up according to the following criteria:
• Having at least two of the symptoms of GTIs as abnormal vaginal discharge, burning, itching, backache, abdominal pain, dyspareunia etc.
• At the reproductive age group (19- <45 years).
Data collection tools:
Two tools of data collection were used:
(1) A semi-structured questionnaire.
(2) Follow-up cards (El-shenawy, S, 2006).
I- A semi-structured questionnaire
It was designed by the researcher in the Arabic language after reviewing the related literature and consisted of 91 questions. It was divided into five parts:
Part (1): It was designed to assess women’s socio-demographic data.
A. Women’s characteristics as (age, residence, marital status, religion, education, job). It included questions from 1-6.
B. It was designed to assess women’s husbands’ characteristics (age, education, and job). It included questions from 7-9.
C. It was designed to assess women’s families’ characteristics as (family type, monthly income, water, sanitation and bathroom in the house). It included questions from 10-14.
Part (2): It was designed to assess women’s health which includes:
A. Reproductive and obstetrical history as (number of pregnancies, number of labor, number of abortion, type of abortion, site of abortion, and number of living children). It included questions from 15-22.
B. Family planning history as (a type of method, duration and follow up). It included questions from 23-26.
C. Medical history of women as (a type of disease, medication and follow up). It included questions from 27-31.
D. Gynecological history as (causes for gynecological examination, type of gynecological operation). It included questions from 32-35.
Part (3): It was designed to assess self-reported symptoms of women regarding GTIs.
A. Self-reported symptoms of women regarding GTIs as (vaginal discharge, menstruation, abdominal pain, urination, sexual intercourse, and back pain). It includes questions from 36-67.
B. Presence or absence of treatment-seeking behavior. It included questions from 68-69.
It was utilized pre-intervention, one-month post-intervention.
Part (4): It was designed to assess women’s reported-practice regarding symptoms of GTIs.
A. Women’s reported-practices regarding symptoms of GTIs as (vaginal discharge, menstruation, abdominal pain, urination, sexual intercourse, and back pain). It included questions from 70-75.
Scoring system: each question was evaluated as 2 scores for done correctly, 1 score for done incorrectly and 0 scores for not done. The total reported practice was classified into:
- Adequate: 60% or more
- Inadequate: less than 60%
It was utilized pre-intervention, one-month post-intervention.
B. It was designed to assess if the women correctly following up healthy habits regarding symptoms of GTIs. It included questions from 76-78. It was utilized pre-intervention, one-month post-intervention.
C. Sources of reported practice as (mother, mother in law and friends). It included questions number (79).
Part (5): It was designed to assess women’s knowledge regarding GTIs and STDs.
A. Women’s knowledge regarding GTIs as (concept, signs & symptoms, factors, and complication). It included questions from 80-86
B. Women’s knowledge regarding STDs. It included questions from 87-91.
Scoring system: each question was evaluated as 2 scores for the complete correct answer, 1 score for the incomplete correct answer and 0 score for I don’t know or incorrect answer. The total knowledge was classified into:
- Satisfactory: 60% or more.
- Unsatisfactory: less than 60%.
It was utilized pre-intervention, one-month post-intervention.
II. Follow up cards:
It was adopted from (El-shenawy, 2006) and modified by the researcher to identify women’s opinions regarding educational program sessions. It included questions from 92-93.
Results of the present study revealed that:
• Women’s age range was between less than twenty to more than forty. Moreover, 40% of them were in the age group less than 20 years, with a mean age of 25.05 ± 8.67.
• Regarding the residence, 65.3% of them came from an urban area. As for their marital status and education, more than one-third of them were married and had secondary education.
• Concerning women’s families’ characteristics, most of them were belonged to the low and middle class and had a healthy housing condition.
• Concerning women’s history, more than one-third of them had multiple pregnancy/children and currently using family planning methods.
• The majority of the studied women showed that lower abdominal pain then abnormal vaginal discharge as the commonest reported symptoms regarding GTIs preprogram, who diminished post-program intervention, with a highly statistically significant difference after the program (P < 0.01).
• The minority of the studied women correctly followed-up healthy habits regarding symptoms of GTIs before the educational program with a highly significant difference after the program (P < 0.01).
• The most (84.1%) of the studied women had inadequate total reported practice pre-program compared with (92.9%) of them had adequate total reported practice post-program intervention with highly statistically significant difference (P < 0.01).
• The majority of the studied women showed that main sources of reported-practice were from their mothers/ mothers in law followed by friends/neighbors, then by pharmacists and finally by physicians or nurses.
• The most (84.7%) of the studied women had unsatisfactory total knowledge pre-program compared with (89.4%) of them had satisfactory total knowledge post-program intervention with highly statistically significant difference (P < 0.01).
• All (100%) of the studied women in reproductive age responded positively to the effect of educational programs on their opinions to check and take care of their health.
• There were positive correlations (P<0.05) between women’s qualification and their total reported practice regarding GTIs.
• There were positive correlations (P<0.05) between women’s characteristics namely age, qualification and total knowledge regarding GTIs.
• There were positive correlations (P<0.05) between total women’s knowledge and their total reported practice regarding GTIs post-program intervention.