Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Occurrence of urinary tract infection and preventive strategies practiced by female students at a tertiary care teaching institution

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Prasuna Jelly
. Rajni Verma 1
. Reena Kumawat 1
. Suman Choudhary 2
. Lisa Chadha
. Rakesh Sharma

1 Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

2 Department of Microbiology, Nursing Service, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common in females than males and 
predominantly based on their unhealthy practices in their day to day lives. This study is trying to 
assess the occurrence of UTI and strategies used by female student to prevent UTI.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional descriptive study carried out in a tertiary care 
teaching institute. A total of 338 conveniently selected B. Sc. Nursing and MBBS Medical students 
were surveyed. The data were collected by using a pretested, a self‑structured questionnaire 
related to occurrence and practices to prevent UTI along with necessary demographic details. 
Descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential (Chi‑square test) 
statistics was used to compute the data.
RESULTS: The result of this study shows that 10.05% female students reported of having UTI. The 
proportion was higher in nursing students (67.6%) than medical (32.4%) but did not show a significance 
difference (P = 0.61). Age, duration of hostel life, and marital status were significantly associated 
with the status of UTI (P = 0.001). To prevent UTI, students were using commercial product with 
Tea Tree Oil, soap, drinking 3–4 l water/day, increased frequency of peri‑wash during menstruation 
period, and use of Citrus Fruits. The use of western toilet was also significantly associated with 
status of UTI (P = 0.04).
CONCLUSION: The occurrence of UTI was more among nursing students. Most of the perineal 
hygienic practices by the female students were associated with occurrence of UTI; hence, it is 
necessary to emphasize on preventive practices to minimize re‑occurrence.

Keywords

Female
hygiene
medical
menstruation
nursing
students
urinary tract infections
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 12, Issue 4
April 2022
Pages 1-8

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