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Background: Vaginal discharge is a common gynecological complaint among
women in the reproductive age group. Objective: The aim of this study was to
explore cultural practices and health‑seeking behaviors related to vaginal discharge
among women living in a socially marginalized community in Colombo district,
Sri Lanka. Methods: A descriptive qualitative design was used in this study. Three
focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in an urban slum community
among women who had a previous history with vaginal discharge. A total of
23 women of different ethnicities and religions were included. FGDs were
audio recorded and field notes were taken. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed
on the basis of qualitative content analysis. Results: Six themes emerged from
the data, namely, confusion in differentiating normal from abnormal vaginal
discharge, effects on day‑to‑day life, confusion toward the causative factors,
difficulties in disclosing, neglecting behaviors, and socio‑cultural influences
toward health‑seeking behaviors. Majority of women expressed that they use
home remedies before consulting a doctor for abnormal vaginal discharge.
Conclusions: Women are unable to differentiate normal from abnormal vaginal
discharge. Thus, it is important for nurses and primary healthcare workers to plan
health education activities for women to empower them with adequate knowledge
and improve their health‑seeking behaviors.
