Genital Hygiene Practices and Occurrence of Genital Infections among Brothel Based Female Sex Workers in Calabar Metropolis

Dr. Okon Ita Effiong; Dr. Uwa Ikouwem Nsikhe; Ogbe, Henry Okpokam

doi:https://doi.org/10.47001/ICJES/2026.509001

Authors

Dr. Okon Ita Effiong

Department of Biology, School of Science Education, Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa, Nigeria

Dr. Uwa Ikouwem Nsikhe

Department of Biology, School of Science Education, Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa, Nigeria

Ogbe, Henry Okpokam

Department of Biology, School of Science Education, Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined the genital hygiene practices and occurrence of genital infections among brothel based female sex workers in Calabar Metropolis. One research question and one null hypothesis guided the study. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted in the study with a multi-stage sampling procedure. Sample sizes of 54 participants were available among female sex workers in the study area at the time of data collection. The instrument for data collection was genital hygiene practices and occurrence of infections questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using chi-square with the help of SPSS. Results from the findings indicated disparities in both hygiene practices and occurrence of infections for age, ethnicity and education level. Based on the results, conclusion drawn and recommendation made; Reproductive-health education among brothel female sex workers in Calabar Metropolis should be age-sensitive, culturally appropriate, educational-level sensitive, continuous and practical.

Keywords

Genital hygiene hygiene practice genital infections and brothel based female sex workers

Citation of this Article

Dr. Okon Ita Effiong, Dr. Uwa Ikouwem Nsikhe, & Ogbe, Henry Okpokam. (2026). Genital Hygiene Practices and Occurrence of Genital Infections among Brothel Based Female Sex Workers in Calabar Metropolis. International Current Journal of Engineering and Science (ICJES), 5(9), 1-7. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.47001/ICJES/2026.509001

References

Ahmadina, H. & Omoare, A. (2016). Prevalence and risk factors of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infections among women in Lagos, Nigeria. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases 7(11), https://doi.org/10.339/tropicalmed7110386.
Badram, A. & Zohre, T. (2015). Prevalence of bacteria vaginosis and impact of genital hygiene Practices in non-pregnant women in Zanjan, Iran. Oman Medical Journal. 24(4); 288-293.
Behzadi, P. & Pawlak-Adamska, E.A. (2019). Urinary Tract Infections. It’s the diagnosis that Count. GMS hygiene and infection control. 14. https://doi.org/10.3205%2Fdgkh000320.
Calik, K. Y., Erkaya, R., Ince, G. & Yildiz, N. K. (2022).genital hygiene behaviors of women And their effect on vaginal infections. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences. 10, 210-216. https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexpheathsci.565845.
Ekholuenetale, M. & Okonji, O. C. (2022). Sub-regional variations in sexually transmitted infections manifesting as vaginitis among reproductive-aged women in Sub-Saharan Countries. Venerology, 1(3), 245-261.
Felix, T. C., Borges,D. L, & Pedreso, S. (2020). Evaluation of vulvovaginitis and hygiene habits of women attended to in primary health care unit of the family. International Journal of Women’s Health, 12, 49-57.
Khulmnam, G. & Ertem, G. (2019). Analysis of genital hygiene behaviors of women who applied to women’s illness and birth policlinic. Erciyes Medical Journal, 41(4), 402-408.
Shah, S.K., Shrestha, S., Subedi, S. & Gurrung, M. (2019). Knowledge and practices of genital health and hygiene among girls of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal. American Journal of Public Health Research.7(4), 151-156.
Shumie, Z. S. & Mengie, Z. A. (2022). Menstrual hygiene management knowledge, practice and associated factors among school girls. North East Ethiopia. PLoS, One. 17(7).e0271275.https://doi,org/10.7910/DVN/RLFDCQ.
Sinan, O., Kaplan, S. E., Sahin, S. & Peksoy, S. I. (2020). Assessment of the effectiveness of genital infection awareness training provided to women based on the IBM model. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 23(3), 408-415.
Sridnar, M. K. C., Okareh, O. T. & Mustapha, M. (2020). Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices on water, sanitation, and hygiene in some selected LGAs in Kaduna State. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 32(5), 32-40. https://doi.org
Umami, A., Paulik, E., Molnar, R. & Bhisma, M. (2022). The relationship between genital hygiene behaviors and genital infections among women: A Systematic Review. Journal Ners, 17(1), 89-107.

[1] Ahmadina, H. & Omoare, A. (2016). Prevalence and risk factors of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infections among women in Lagos, Nigeria. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases 7(11), https://doi.org/10.339/tropicalmed7110386.

[2] Badram, A. & Zohre, T. (2015). Prevalence of bacteria vaginosis and impact of genital hygiene Practices in non-pregnant women in Zanjan, Iran. Oman Medical Journal. 24(4); 288-293.

[3] Behzadi, P. & Pawlak-Adamska, E.A. (2019). Urinary Tract Infections. It’s the diagnosis that Count. GMS hygiene and infection control. 14. https://doi.org/10.3205%2Fdgkh000320.

[4] Calik, K. Y., Erkaya, R., Ince, G. & Yildiz, N. K. (2022).genital hygiene behaviors of women And their effect on vaginal infections. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences. 10, 210-216. https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexpheathsci.565845.

[5] Ekholuenetale, M. & Okonji, O. C. (2022). Sub-regional variations in sexually transmitted infections manifesting as vaginitis among reproductive-aged women in Sub-Saharan Countries. Venerology, 1(3), 245-261.

[6] Felix, T. C., Borges,D. L, & Pedreso, S. (2020). Evaluation of vulvovaginitis and hygiene habits of women attended to in primary health care unit of the family. International Journal of Women’s Health, 12, 49-57.

[7] Khulmnam, G. & Ertem, G. (2019). Analysis of genital hygiene behaviors of women who applied to women’s illness and birth policlinic. Erciyes Medical Journal, 41(4), 402-408.

[8] Shah, S.K., Shrestha, S., Subedi, S. & Gurrung, M. (2019). Knowledge and practices of genital health and hygiene among girls of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal. American Journal of Public Health Research.7(4), 151-156.

[9] Shumie, Z. S. & Mengie, Z. A. (2022). Menstrual hygiene management knowledge, practice and associated factors among school girls. North East Ethiopia. PLoS, One. 17(7).e0271275.https://doi,org/10.7910/DVN/RLFDCQ.

[10] Sinan, O., Kaplan, S. E., Sahin, S. & Peksoy, S. I. (2020). Assessment of the effectiveness of genital infection awareness training provided to women based on the IBM model. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 23(3), 408-415.

[11] Sridnar, M. K. C., Okareh, O. T. & Mustapha, M. (2020). Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices on water, sanitation, and hygiene in some selected LGAs in Kaduna State. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 32(5), 32-40. https://doi.org

[12] Umami, A., Paulik, E., Molnar, R. & Bhisma, M. (2022). The relationship between genital hygiene behaviors and genital infections among women: A Systematic Review. Journal Ners, 17(1), 89-107.