The Relationship Between Knowledge About Vulva Hygiene and the Incidence of Vulvar Pruritus in Adolescent Girls at Tangerang City

Abstract

Pruritus vulva is an itching complaint in the external genital area of women that is often experienced by adolescent girls and is at increased risk if vulvar hygiene is not maintained. Knowledge about vulvar hygiene is an important factor in its prevention. However, at Manggala High School and Vocational School in Tangerang City, education on this topic is still limited. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the level of knowledge about vulvar hygiene and the occurrence of vulvar pruritus among adolescent girls. The study employs a quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach. A sample of 160 female students was selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire covering knowledge levels about vulva hygiene, the occurrence of vulvar pruritus, and respondent characteristics, and analyzed using the Chi-square test. The results showed that most respondents were 17 years old (36.2%), bathed ?2 times a day (91.2%), consumed junk food (75%), excessive consumption of sweet foods (71.9%), low-income families (63.8%), 70.6% had insufficient knowledge about vulva hygiene, and 67.5% experienced vulvar pruritus. The results showed a significant association between the level of knowledge about vulva hygiene and the incidence of vulvar pruritus (p = 0.013). However, there was no significant association between age, bathing habits, junk food consumption, sweet food consumption, and family income with vulvar pruritus. The conclusion of this study indicates that good knowledge about vulvar hygiene is associated with a lower incidence of vulvar pruritus, making reproductive health education an important preventive measure.