Examining whether health literacy predicts genital hygiene behaviors and sexually transmitted disease prevention behaviors in hearing-impaired women

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine whether health literacy of hearing-impaired women predicts their genital hygiene behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Disease Protection Behaviors. Materials and Methods: The study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consisted of hearing impaired women of reproductive age. The study was completed with 141 hearing impaired women. Data were collected using the "Socio-Demographic Information Form", "Turkey Health Literacy Scale TSOY-32", "Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale" and "Sexually Transmitted Disease Protection Behaviors Scale". The relationship between the sub-dimensions of the Türkiye Health Literacy Scale TSOY-32 and the sub-dimensions of the Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale and the sub-dimensions of the Behaviors for Protection from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Scale was examined using Pearson correlation analysis. The predictive status of the sub-dimensions of the Türkiye Health Literacy Scale TSOY-32, the sub-dimensions of the Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale, and the sub-dimensions of the Behaviors for Protection from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Scale was determined by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: There is a positive, moderate and statistically significant relationship between the Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 and the Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale Total scale and its sub-dimensions, a positive, strong and statistically significant relationship between the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Protection Behaviors Scale total scale and the Knowledge and Protection sub-dimension, and a positive, moderate and statistically significant relationship between the attitude sub-dimension. It was found that the sub-dimensions of the Türkiye Health Literacy Scale-32 predicted the total scale and sub-dimensions of the Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale and the total scale and sub-dimensions of the Behaviors for Protection from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Scale. Conclusion: It is important to develop strategies that will increase health literacy among hearing-impaired women regarding genital hygiene behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Keywords: Genital Hygiene; Health Literacy; Hearing Impaired Woman; Sexually Transmitted Infection