Abstract

Aim: To assess the pattern of urinary tract infection in an all-female secondary school in Enugu metropolis, South East Nigeria. rnMethod: A total of 340 students of a Catholic – mission-owned all girls secondary school were used for this cross sectional study which took place between June and November 2018. A questionnaire which elicited information on their ages and pattern of urinary tract infection was used for data collection. rnResults: The total no of students used for the study was 340. Out of these, 17.6% indicated that they have had UTI during their stay in the school. Out of the 60 that had infection 16.2% indicated that they had between one and three episodes while 1.5% had it four to six times. 32.8% got the information that they had UTI from their mothers, 51.7% from their Doctor, 11.6% found out by themselves while 3.4% each found out from the nurse and their friend respectively. The highest number (66.7%) claimed they got infected through dirty toilet seats, while the lowest got infected by poor personal hygiene (20%). The 340 students were asked questions on the symptoms of UTI 69.4% said burning sensation, 28.8% urinary incontinence, 37% vaginal discharge, 41.2% urinary frequency, 35.3% urge incontinence, 34.4% smelly urine. rnConclusion: The results indicate that UTI is very common in the girls’ secondary school and most of the factors responsible for the high prevalence are due to poor menstrual, personal and environmental hygiene. There is the need for good health education to the students on personal and menstrual hygiene and advocacy to the school authorities on need to improve the environmental hygiene.