Introduction:

This study was conducted develop an assessment instrument aimed at evaluating the genital hygiene behavior of women and to determine its validity and reliability.

Methods:

In this methodological research, the Genital Hygiene Behavior Scale, which was designed as a self-report measure in the 5-point Likert Scale, consisted of three subdimensions including general hygiene, menstrual hygiene, and abnormal finding awareness and 27 items in total. After the content validity (CVI) of the scale was proved, it was used on 560 students who volunteered to participate and who were receiving high school education in the 2013-2014 academic year. The CVI score, construct validity, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and reliability were assessed by estimating Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficient.

Results:

The CVI score for expert opinion related to the 5-point scale was 100%. As a result of CFA, four items that did not have a t-value were excluded from the scale. In the second-level factor analysis for determining whether the model built in the scale was verified, the regression coefficient and t-values were significant (t>1.92) and the model was verified. While Cronbach’s alpha value belonging to the whole scale was 0.80, the alpha value of the general hygiene subdimension was 0.70, that of the menstrual hygiene subdimension was 0.74, and that of the abnormal finding awareness subdimension was 0.81.

Conclusion:

The results obtained from this study give rise to the thought that the scale is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring genital hygiene behavior.

Keywords: Genital hygiene, genital hygiene behavior, Genital Hygiene Behavior Scale