Enhancing Reproductive Health Awareness Among Nursing Students: Impact of an Information Booklet on Vaginal Infection Management

Abstract

Vaginal infections are among the most common reproductive health problems affecting women of reproductive age and continue to pose significant public health challenges due to inadequate awareness, poor hygienic practices, and delayed healthcare-seeking behavior. Nursing students, as future healthcare professionals, require adequate knowledge regarding prevention and home care management of vaginal infections to promote personal reproductive health and provide effective patient education. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an information booklet on knowledge regarding home care management of vaginal infection among nursing students in a selected college. A quantitative pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest research design was adopted among 80 undergraduate nursing students selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge related to causes, symptoms, prevention, and home care management of vaginal infections. Following pre-test assessment, participants received an evidence-based information booklet, and post-test evaluation was conducted after the intervention. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. The findings revealed inadequate baseline knowledge among participants, with a mean pre-test score of 9.44 ± 2.49. Following administration of the information booklet, the mean post-test score significantly increased to 16.71 ± 2.90. The paired t-test demonstrated a highly statistically significant improvement in knowledge scores (t = 33.83, p < 0.005). Significant associations were also observed between post-test knowledge scores and variables such as residence and source of reproductive health information. The study concluded that the information booklet was highly effective in improving nursing students’ knowledge regarding home care management of vaginal infections and emphasized the importance of structured reproductive health education interventions in nursing education.