TY - JOUR
T1 - Populations at Risk Across the Lifespan
T2 - Case Studies: What has Changed about Vaginal Douching among African American Mothers and Daughters?
AU - Mark, Hayley
AU - Sherman, Susan G.
AU - Nanda, Joy
AU - Chambers-Thomas, Tracey
AU - Barnes, Mathilda
AU - Rompalo, Anne
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Objectives: To explore African American mothers' and daughters' practices and influences related to vaginal douching.Design and Sample: Our overall study used a sequential mixed-method design with 3 phases. Phase 1, the focus of this report, used grounded theory methods and in-depth, semistructured individual interviews. Two generations of African American girls and women: 24 girls ("daughters") aged 14-18 and 17 women ("mothers" or "mother figures") aged 22-43, recruited from 1 adolescent health clinic in Baltimore, MD.Measures: In-depth interviews were taped and transcribed and data analysis used the constant comparison method.Results: Daughters were much less likely to douche or to have been exposed to douching information than mothers. Many mothers and daughters were influenced by health care providers and/or family members to not initiate, to decrease, or to stop douching. Women who currently douche often do so because of the perception of improved smell and cleanliness around menstruation and sexual intercourse.Conclusions: These data indicate that although some women continue to believe that vaginal douching has therapeutic value, others have been influenced to stop or not start douching by family and health care providers. Health care providers should continue efforts to educate patients on the risks of vaginal douching.
AB - Objectives: To explore African American mothers' and daughters' practices and influences related to vaginal douching.Design and Sample: Our overall study used a sequential mixed-method design with 3 phases. Phase 1, the focus of this report, used grounded theory methods and in-depth, semistructured individual interviews. Two generations of African American girls and women: 24 girls ("daughters") aged 14-18 and 17 women ("mothers" or "mother figures") aged 22-43, recruited from 1 adolescent health clinic in Baltimore, MD.Measures: In-depth interviews were taped and transcribed and data analysis used the constant comparison method.Results: Daughters were much less likely to douche or to have been exposed to douching information than mothers. Many mothers and daughters were influenced by health care providers and/or family members to not initiate, to decrease, or to stop douching. Women who currently douche often do so because of the perception of improved smell and cleanliness around menstruation and sexual intercourse.Conclusions: These data indicate that although some women continue to believe that vaginal douching has therapeutic value, others have been influenced to stop or not start douching by family and health care providers. Health care providers should continue efforts to educate patients on the risks of vaginal douching.
KW - African Americans
KW - Vaginal douching
KW - Women's health
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2010.00874.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2010.00874.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 20840711
AN - SCOPUS:78649459386
SN - 0737-1209
VL - 27
SP - 418
EP - 424
JO - Public Health Nursing
JF - Public Health Nursing
IS - 5
ER -