Douching practices among women in the Bolgatanga municipality of the upper east region of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal douching is a common practice among women all over the world. Women douche for various reasons, despite evidence indicating the harmful health effects of the practice. There is lack of data on the practice in Ghana but health behaviors like vaginal douching may be influenced by differences in culture and geography. Therefore, this study sought to assess prevalence and predictors of vaginal douching practices among women of the Bolgatanga Municipality of Ghana. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 women from January to March 2016. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of the women practiced vaginal douching, from which a similar proportion did it daily. Over two-thirds (67.7%) of the women used water for douching. The reasons for douching were cleansing the vagina (67.7%), therapeutic effects (12.8%) and tightening of the vaginal muscles (19.5%). The majority (87.2%) of women who douched were unaware of the harmful health effects associated with the practice. The educational level of the women (p = 0.025) and having knowledge of the dangers associated with douching (p <  0.001) were then significantly associated with douching practices. CONCLUSION: Vaginal douching is commonly practiced by women in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Most of these women douche because they did not know that there are health problems associated with the practice. Health education on the issues of women health is very vital for the improvement of women's health.

Disrupted Sensemaking-Understanding Family Experiences of Physical Restraints in ICU: A Phenomenological Approach in the Context of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of COVID-19 profoundly influenced the dynamics within intensive care units, significantly altering the patient-family experience. As the pandemic unfolded, the longstanding practice of using physical restraints for patient safety persisted, introducing new challenges in healthcare settings. This study explored the ramifications of these enduring safety measures on family members of ICU patients during the pandemic, illuminating their lived experiences and the psychological impact of seeing their loved ones restrained. OBJECTIVES: To explore family members' lived experiences with physical restraints in the ICU during COVID-19 and inform improvements in patient-centered care. METHODS: Utilizing hermeneutic phenomenology, the study engaged ten family members in detailed interviews to gain an understanding of their experiences with ICU physical restraints during COVID-19. Conducted at a northeastern U.S. hospital, the collected narratives underwent thematic analysis within a sensemaking framework, yielding a profound understanding of family perspectives. RESULTS: Family members faced challenges in understanding and coping with physical restraints, revealing a need for improved healthcare system support for family sensemaking and well-being. CONCLUSIONS: The study advocates integrating empathetic communication and family engagement into ICU care practices, underlining the importance of sensemaking during healthcare crises.