COGI 2023

THE EFFECT OF HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOR ON KNOWLEDGE OF PELVIC FLOOR HEALTH IN WOMEN

Funda ÖZDEMİR 1 Menekşe Nazlı AKER 2 Melek Hava KÖPRÜLÜ 3 Rabia ERKAN 4
1Department of Nursing, Ankara University, Faculty of Nursing, Ankara
2Department of Midwifery, Ankara University, Faculty of Nursing, Ankara
3Department of Nursing, Ankara University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Ankara

Objective: Most women with pelvic floor dysfunction do not engage in health-seeking behavior for their problems. There are many barriers to seeking help. One of these is knowledge. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of women`s health-seeking behaviors on pelvic floor health knowledge.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in women`s education and culture centers of a municipality between March and July 2023. The study included 344 literate women over the age of 18. Descriptive Information Form, Health Seeking Behavior Scale, and Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test were used as data collection tools. The necessary ethical committee approval, institutional permission, and informed consent from participants have been obtained to conduct the study.

Results: It was determined that the mean age of the participants included in the study was 44.96±12.68 years and 39.2% of them had secondary school education. It was observed that the mean number of pregnancies was 2.55±1.68. It was observed that the mean Health Seeking Behavior score was 3.17±.68 and the mean Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test score was 16.89±5.93. There was a positive correlation between the Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test score and the Health Seeking Behavior Scale score (p<0,001). According to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, it was seen that undergraduate and higher education level (β=0.268), number of pregnancies (β=0.188) and online health-seeking behavior (β=0.142) were significant predictors of women`s pelvic floor health knowledge levels (p<0.05). There was no significant contribution of Professional and Traditional health-seeking behaviors (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The study found that participants` online health-seeking behaviors increase their knowledge of pelvic floor health. Nurses and other health professionals are recommended to increase women`s pelvic floor health knowledge levels through effective education programs.

Keywords: Pelvic Floor, Health Care Seeking Behavior, Women, Knowledge