الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the WorkOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Vaginal discharge is usually normal phenomenon; most women have vaginal discharge, especially those of childbearing age. The amount, consistency, color and smell of discharge vary among women. Glands in the cervix produce mucus. This may normally change its color to white or yellow on exposure to air. The amount of mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Discharge would be more during ovulation or sexual arousal. The walls of the vagina may also make some secretions (Schrager, Paladine, and Cadwallader, 2011).
Vaginal discharge may be normal or abnormal. Normal vaginal discharge is physiologic, such as occurs during pregnancy, sexual arousal or at specific period in the menstrual circle. Physiologic vaginal discharge in pregnant women is colorless or white, non irritating and odorless or has mild odor and is non-infective in nature with no squeals. Meanwhile, abnormal vaginal discharge often is associated with other symptoms, such as complaints of green, yellow, brown or red in color with foul smelling odor, pruritus, irritation, dysuria or dyspareunia depending on the type of infection (Khawaja et al, 2011).
This study aimes at studing the effect VD on nurses student’s quality of life (QOL). To achieve the study objective, a descreptive study design is implemented at Faculty of Nursing Ain Shams University.
A simple random sampling technique is used to recruit (142) student girls. So, the number of students that are selected in the first year (48) students, (39) students in the second year, (23) students in the third year and (32) students in the fourth year. Data collection has been carried out throughout the period from the beginning of September 2012 and finished at the end of May 2013.
Two tools of data collection are used. First is structured interviewing questionnaire sheet to collect the demographic data, characteristics of vaginal discharge, students’ knowledge regarding care during menstrual care, and students’ knowledge about VD and QOL. Second is the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) adopted from Ware et al, 2002 to assess students’ QOL .
Results of the present study revealed that:
• The mean age of girls included in the study is 20.32 ± 1.33 years. Moreover, (66.2%) of them their age is ranged between 20 to 22 years.
• The highest percentage of VD has affected the students’ who live in urban area (66.2%).
• More than half of student (60.6%) are affected by abnormal vaginal discharge. As, (37%), (72.8%), and (11.1%) of them have physical, psychological, and social effect, respectively.
• According to color and odor of vaginal discharge (46.4%) of student have thick white vaginal discharge with odor. As regard other associated physical symptoms (73.3%) of students have itching. Mean while, (89.5%) of students have anxiety as psychological associated symptom. Furthermore, (57%) of students affected by vaginal discharge. The most effective kind are psychological that represent (72.8%).
• Concerning use of treatment, (45.3%) of students use different types of treatment. In relation to type of treatment, (46.2%) of them use medications. Regarding side effect of treatment, (33.4%) of students’ have somatic symptoms and (66.6%) of students have effective symptoms, respectively. Meanwhile, nurses as advisor for treatment represents (61.5%).
• According to students’ knowledge regarding vaginal discharge, (29.5%) of students with normal vaginal discharge have incomplete correct knowledge regarding VD. However, (6.1%) of them have complete correct knowledge. Conversely, (23.4%) of students with abnormal vaginal discharge have incomplete correct knowledge regarding VD. Moreover, 5.4% of them have complete correct knowledge.
• According to students’ knowledge regarding QOL, (84.1%), (9.6%), and (6.3%) of nurses’ students with normal vaginal discharge have incorrect, incomplete correct and complete correct knowledge regarding quality of life, respectively. While, (69.0%), (20.4%), and (10.6%) of nurses’ students with abnormal vaginal discharge have incorrect, incomplete correct and complete correct knowledge regarding quality of life, respectively.
• According to students’ knowledge regarding QOL, (84.1%) of students with normal vaginal discharge have incorrect knowledge regarding QOL. However, (9.6%) of them have incomplete correct knowledge regarding QOL. In addition, only(6.3%) of them have complete correct knowledge regarding QOL.
• According to students’ knowledge regarding QOL, (69.0%) of students with abnormal vaginal discharge have incorrect knowledge regarding QOL. However, (20.4%) of them have incomplete correct knowledge regarding QOL. In addition, only (10.6%) of them have complete correct knowledge regarding QOL.
• As regard comparison score of QOL on students, that there is a highly statistical significant difference between nurses’ students with normal and abnormal vaginal discharge regarding physical activities, and pain severity. However, there is a statistical significant difference between nurses’ students with normal and abnormal vaginal discharge regarding physical health, psychological health, social health, pain affecting activity, and total score of quality of life.
• There is a highly statistical significant difference between nurses’ students knowledge with normal and abnormal vaginal discharge regarding vaginal discharge, and menses care. However, there is a statistical significant difference between nurses’ students knowledge with normal and abnormal vaginal discharge regarding quality of life.
• There is a highly significant relation between student’s knowledge means score about VD and their age, place of residence, and educational level. However, there is no significant relation between student’s knowledge means score about VD and their source of information.
• There is a highly significant relation between student’s knowledge means score about QOL and their age, place of residence and source of information.
In the light of the present study findings, it concluded that, nearly two third of the studied students with normal vaginal discharge have incorrect knowledge regarding vaginal discharge compared with nearly three quarter of students with abnormal vaginal discharge. While, most of the studied students with normal vaginal discharge have incorrect knowledge regarding QOL compared with more than two third of students with abnormal vaginal discharge. Meanwhile, one quarter of the studied students with normal vaginal discharge have incorrect knowledge regarding menstrual care compared with nearly one fifth of students with abnormal vaginal discharge.
Students with abnormal vaginal discharge have highly
degree of incorrect knowledge regarding vaginal discharge.
Students with abnormal vaginal discharge have lower score in all components of quality of life except pain severity and pain affecting activities than students with normal vaginal discharge.
The present study recommended that:
• Awareness session should be provided for all students at different academic level regarding vaginal discharge, menstrual care and QOL.
• Faculty professional staff should establish a comprehensive update & refreshing health education program to enable female students to cope with these disturbing problems.
For further research in this field:
• Reapplication of the present study finding on a large sample size and at different settings.
• Further study is needed to study effect of different management strategies on treating abnormal vaginal discharge and improving QOL.
• Factors affecting usage of different management strategies and coping mechanism among students with abnormal vaginal discharge.