Health education on vulvovaginitis for women seen at a family health center

Abstract

Objective: To develop educational activities, aiming at the construction of knowledge about vulvovaginitis, identifying the knowledge acquired and the desire for attitude change after the activities. Methods: A qualitative descriptive research, held at Maria Adeodato Family Health Center (FHC) in the city of Sobral, Ceará, in the period from March to May 2013. Ten educational activities regarding vulvovaginites were performed with women seen at the FHC, addressing different topics. Every action was divided into three phases: diagnosis of prior knowledge, educational activities with the subject to be covered, and afterwards evaluation. Data was collected through semi-structured interview, for the participant’s identification, and focal group, for the diagnostic and evaluation phases, and content analysis was performed using thematic categories. Results: The research comprised 8 participants, aged between 48 and 55 years, with schooling ranging from the first year of primary education to complete primary education, mostly single, having a minimum of 5 children, and the participants did not undergo the gynecological exam frequently. The generated analysis categories were described as ‘women’s knowledge of the body (genitals) and their intimate hygiene’, ‘prevention and control of vulvovaginites’ and ‘women’s perception about gynecological exam’. It was evidenced that the study participants ignored the terminology ‘vulvovaginitis’ as well as the disease signs, symptoms, and means of transmission, or just had a brief knowledge of the subject. Conclusion: After the educational activities, the study identified knowledge acquirement by the participants and expressions indicating the desire for changing. doi: 10.5020/18061230.2014.p513