Effect of Peer Education on Genital Hygiene Behaviors

This study examined whether peer education improves genital hygiene behaviors among female university students studying health sciences. Genital infections are common among young women, and there are limited structured educational programs addressing genital hygiene. The study included 46 female university students and used a pretest-posttest design. Peer educators were selected from among the students and received structured training before delivering genital hygiene education to their peers. Information was collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a validated genital hygiene behaviors scale, both before and after the education program. After the peer education program, students showed an overall improvement in genital hygiene behaviors, particularly in general hygiene habits. Improvements were more noticeable among students from non-midwifery departments and second-year students. Menstrual hygiene behaviors and awareness of abnormal genital findings did not show significant changes. These findings suggest that peer education can be an effective and practical approach to improving genital hygiene behaviors among female university students. Peer-led education programs may be integrated into university health promotion activities and reproductive health education.