A military challenge to managing feminine and personal hygiene
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2026
The Portable Chemical Sterilizer (PCS), D-FENS, and D-FEND ALL: Novel Chlorine Dioxide Decontamination Technologies for the Military
Published on: June 29, 2014
1University of Texas, Houston, School of Nursing, USA. dwardell@sonl.nur.uth.tmc.edu
Purpose:
To examine the personal remembrances of a group of military women concerning their experiences with hygiene issues during service in a hostile environment.
Data Sources:
Verbatim transcripts of focused interviews from 33 women who had been deployed to combat or the field were subjected to content analysis. Questions related to the womens' experiences in cleansing the body, collecting menses waste, and protecting against genitourinary infection in a hostile environment.
Conclusions:
Management of personal hygiene needs was often difficult and consumed a great deal of time. Hygiene issues affected women's attitudes, practice, work, morale and coping.
Implications For Practice:
By understanding the hygiene needs and practices of military woman changes can be made that have the potential to affect health promotion and disease prevention strategies for all women.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Surface Membrane Barriers
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
01:28Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
01:26Defense Mechanism Against Infection
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...
01:17Urinary Tract Infection IV: Nursing Management
01:08Obedience