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Effect of Vulval Health Education on Vulval Self-Care Practices among Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria

Abstract

Vulval health is an important component of women's reproductive and general health because the vulva may be affected by irritation, infections, allergic reactions, inflammatory conditions, skin disorders, and other reproductive-health concerns. Women of reproductive age may experience vulval symptoms such as itching, burning, dryness, irritation, abnormal odour, discomfort, or skin changes, yet some may have limited knowledge of appropriate vulval hygiene and self-care practices. The use of scented products, vaginal or vulval douching, harsh soaps, inappropriate cleansing methods, tight or poorly ventilated clothing, and self-treatment with unverified products may contribute to irritation or delay appropriate healthcare-seeking. Vulval health education provides an opportunity to improve women's knowledge of appropriate vulval care, reduce harmful practices, promote symptom recognition, and encourage timely professional assessment when necessary. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of vulval health education on vulval self-care practices among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Health Literacy Theory, and Self-Care Deficit Theory. The Health Belief Model explains how women's perceptions of susceptibility to vulval health problems, perceived severity, perceived benefits of appropriate self-care, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action may influence vulval self-care practices. Health Literacy Theory emphasizes women's ability to obtain, understand, evaluate, and apply reliable health information to make appropriate decisions about vulval health. Self-Care Deficit Theory emphasizes the ability of individuals to acquire knowledge and perform appropriate self-care activities necessary to maintain health and prevent complications. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how vulval health education may influence vulval self-care practices among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise women aged 18–49 years residing in selected urban, semi-urban, and rural communities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, local government areas, communities, households, healthcare facilities, and eligible women. Vulval health education will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to vulval-health education sessions, frequency and duration of education, knowledge of normal vulval anatomy and function, appropriate cleansing practices, avoidance of vaginal douching, avoidance of scented soaps and perfumed products, appropriate selection of underwear and clothing, menstrual hygiene, recognition of vulval irritation and other concerning symptoms, avoidance of inappropriate self-medication, awareness of common vulval health conditions, appropriate use of prescribed treatments, and knowledge of when to seek professional healthcare. Vulval self-care practices will be assessed using indicators such as appropriate external cleansing, avoidance of harmful or irritating products, avoidance of unnecessary douching, appropriate drying practices, appropriate menstrual hygiene, use of clean and breathable underwear, avoidance of prolonged exposure to moisture or irritants, appropriate management of minor irritation, avoidance of unverified vulval remedies, monitoring of persistent or recurrent symptoms, and timely consultation with qualified healthcare professionals when concerning symptoms occur. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, vulval-health knowledge assessment tools, self-care practice scales, scenario-based questions, and pre-test and post-test assessments where a quasi-experimental intervention is adopted. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, reproductive-health experiences, sources of vulval-health information, knowledge levels, and self-care practices. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, paired and independent t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of vulval health education on vulval self-care practices. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, self-care practice scores before and after the educational intervention may be compared with those of a comparison group to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that vulval health education has a significant positive effect on vulval self-care practices among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Women exposed to structured, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate vulval-health education are expected to demonstrate improved knowledge and healthier self-care practices than women without comparable exposure. Education may improve understanding of appropriate external cleansing, avoidance of vaginal douching, reduction of exposure to scented or irritating products, appropriate menstrual hygiene, and the importance of seeking professional assessment for persistent, recurrent, or concerning symptoms. Practical education may also help women distinguish between normal variations and symptoms that may require clinical evaluation, thereby reducing inappropriate self-treatment and potentially harmful hygiene practices. However, cultural beliefs, misinformation, embarrassment about discussing vulval health, financial barriers, limited access to women's health services, social influences, and reliance on traditional or unverified remedies may reduce the effectiveness of education alone. The study therefore expects accessible, confidential, culturally appropriate, practical, and sustained vulval health education, supported by appropriate reproductive-health services, to contribute significantly to improved vulval self-care practices among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on vulval health, women's health, reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, genital health education, self-care practices, health literacy, infection prevention, health promotion, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, state ministries of health, hospitals, primary healthcare centres, reproductive-health clinics, gynaecologists, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, community health workers, women's health organizations, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for strengthening women's reproductive-health education. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating vulval health education into routine women's health and reproductive-health programmes, strengthening community-based health education, addressing harmful hygiene practices and misinformation, improving women's recognition of concerning vulval symptoms, strengthening referral and follow-up systems, and developing sustainable health-promotion programmes that support healthy vulval self-care practices among women across Nigeria.

Keywords: Vulval health education, vulval self-care practices, women of reproductive age, vulval health, reproductive health, women's health, genital health, menstrual hygiene, health education, health literacy, self-care, Nigeria, public health.