Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Vaginal Candidiasis Infection a Survey Among Female Students in Selected Senior High Schools in the Lower Manya Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Introduction Vaginal Candidiasis (VC) is a common infection in women. In Ghana effective prevention and treatment among adolescents is hindered by the persistence of myths and the lack of knowledge about causes. A possible platform for intervention is the Ghana Health Service School Health Education Program (SHEP) currently in place in public schools. Methods This study is a cross-sectional study that used a self-administered questionnaire to explore knowledge and attitude towards VC among students in five (three public and two public) selected senior high Schools in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Data was collected on the socio-demographic background of students, their knowledge of the causes and symptoms of VC, as well as common misconceptions about the infection. Data analysis using STATA 14 was descriptive and explorative. Determinants of the practice of douching and the myth that all women have candidiasis were explored using chi-square. Results Four hundred and fifty (450) respondents between the ages 13 to 25 years with a mean age of 17(standard deviation 1.6) years participated in the survey. About 73.3% of students admitted to having had VC, and 95.3% believed that eating sugary foods was among the cases of VC. The prevalence of douching was 51.3%. About 76.9% of students believed that all women naturally have VC. Students in the two private institutions were more likely to practice douching than students in the three public schools (P-value<0.01). Similarly, students in Forms 2 and 3 were progressively less likely to douche (p=0.02) than students in Form 1. Curiously students in Forms 2 and 3 were more likely to believe that all women naturally suffered from VC (p=0.04). There was no significant association between believing that all women naturally suffered from VC and the practice of douching. Conclusion The high prevalence of VC, misconceptions about it and the practice of douching require that Education on VC be prioritized and specifically included in the curriculum of SHSs. The SHEP needs to be extended to private SHSs in the study area.