en Midwifery Orginal research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height:2;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><b><span lang="TR"><span style="color:#2980b9;">Background:</span> </span></b><span lang="TR">Given the high prevalence of genital infections and the need to strengthen effective educational approaches to improve preventive health behaviors, effective and sustainable educational strategies are essential in public health.<b> </b></span><br> <b><span lang="TR"><span style="color:#2980b9;">Objective:</span> </span></b><span lang="TR">The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of peer education on genital hygiene behaviors among health sciences students.</span><br> <b><span lang="TR"><span style="color:#2980b9;">Methods:</span> </span></b><span lang="TR">&nbsp;This quasi-experimental study with a single-group pre-test and post-test design was conducted online among 46 female students enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Kırklareli University during the 2022&ndash;2023 academic year. Participants received a 40-minute single-session peer education program, and post-test assessments were completed one month after the intervention. Data were collected using the Entry Information Form and the Genital Hygiene Behaviors Scale. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and subgroup analyses based on sociodemographic characteristics were performed. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05.&nbsp; </span><br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b><span lang="TR">Results:</span></b></span><span lang="TR"><span style="color:#2980b9;"> </span>Among 46 female students, the mean (SD) total GHBS score increased significantly after peer education, from 95.93 (8.72) to 100.39 (8.19) (p=0.019, Cohen&rsquo;s d=0.36). The General Hygiene Habits subscale also improved significantly (p=0.002). Greater increases in total GHBS scores were observed among students from other health departments and second-year students, while no statistically significant changes were detected in the other subscales.</span><br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b><span lang="TR">Conclusion:</span></b></span><span lang="TR"> Preliminary findings suggest that peer-led interventions may be feasible and potentially beneficial. However, larger controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.</span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</div> Genitalia, Hygiene, Health Education, Students, women’s health 80 90 http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1081-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Seçil Hür secilhur@klu.edu.tr 100319475328460015314 100319475328460015314 Yes Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kırklareli University, Kırklareli, Türkiye Sefa Karaman sefakaraman@klu.edu.tr 100319475328460015315 100319475328460015315 No Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kırklareli University, Kırklareli, Türkiye Özgenur Hacıoğlu ozgenuryilmaz@klu.edu.tr 100319475328460015316 100319475328460015316 No Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kırklareli University, Kırklareli, Türkiye Ayça Şolt Kırca aycasolt@klu.edu.tr 100319475328460015317 100319475328460015317 No Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kırklareli University, Kırklareli, Türkiye