Informing women during vaginal examinations: a comparative study in Egyptian and Jordanian settings

ABSTRACT

This aim of this study was to compare parturient women's Perception regarding the information obtained during vaginal examinations in Egyptian and Jordanian settings. The study was conducted in two similar setting in Jordan and Egypt. Two convenience samples of 100 subjects each were recruited low pregnant women attending the study settings for delivery. Fifty women were recruited from each department / center, for a total of 200. Their age ranged between 20 and 38 years. Women with complications during pregnancy or any gynecological diseases were excluded. The study was carried out during the period from January 2007 to June 2007. The results of this study revealed that the majority of women in both samples were 26 years age or older. The highest percentages of women in the Jordanian and Egyptian sample had secondary or diploma level of education. More than one third of the women, the duration of marriage was less than four years. As regard sources of information about vaginal examination, it pointed statistical significant differences between the two groups. The most frequently reported sources of information were readings of books magazines, radio and television. Statistically significant differences were revealed between two groups. Thus, significantly more Egyptian women agreed up on having obtained enough information about vaginal examination [0.043], having been told what was happening after each vaginal examination [0< 0.01]. Conversely, more Jordanian women reported having always been asked permission before vaginal examination [p.003]. More over women satisfaction with the information they got about vaginal examination statistically significant difference between two groups [p< 0.001]. It is evident that slightly less than half of the Egyptian women considered the information very good, compared to only about one- fourth of the Jordanian ones. Conversely, 20.6% of the Jordanian women considered the information unsatisfactory, compared to only 5.2% of the Egyptian women. The present study was recommended that the community health nurse / midwives should be exposed to training programs to raise their awareness about the importance of providing correct information and support to their clients regarding the procedure