ABSTRACT
Genital prolapse is one of the common gynecologic problems, which can have serious sexual, physical, and social as well as psychological consequences, with severe impact on women quality of life. Women may perceive their condition as either being unworthy of medical attention. This will delay treatment and aggravate the condition. The aims of this study are to assess the awareness of women about genital prolapse, to determine their using of traditional methods for relief symptoms of genital prolapse, and the health problems associated with this behavior. The study was conducted at the outpatient Gynecology and Family planning clinics of El Menia University Hospital between the first of October 2003 and the end of March 2004, using an analytic cross-sectional design. It included a consecutive convenience sample of 100 women attending the clinic. The tools of the study included a structured interviewing questionnaire form covering general characteristics, history, awareness about genital prolapse, symptoms, use of traditional methods and associated health hazards, in addition to modified WHO symptoms checklist. Most women [78%] were 35 years old or more, married [82%] housewives [85%] and illiterate [89%], and all were rural. 86% were gravida 4+, 76% had four or more deliveries, and 88.0% were assisted by dayas. 83% were not aware they were having genital prolapse. It was found that 22% used traditional practices, such as local application of onion [5%], or onion with chamomile [3%], and sitting in warm water [4%], or using heel pressure [10%]. Of those using traditional methods, 90.9% had vaginal pain, 63.6% had dyspareunia, and 13.6% had vaginal discharge. Higher age had statistically significant association with awareness about prolapse. All women who used traditional methods were having heavy domestic work, p=0.04. A statistically significant association was found between the degree of prolapse and women awareness about it, p<0.001. It is concluded that the majority of women were not aware about their genital prolapse, especially younger ones. Nearly one quarter of the women used traditional methods such as heel pressure, or application of onion with or without chamomile in the vagina or the rectum to treat their genital prolapse, which had harmful effects. It is recommended that nurses should motivate women to seek treatment from professional sources