Impact of Health Education on Knowledge and Sexually Transmitted Infections Prevention in Young Married Women: Quasi‐Experimental Study

BACKGROUND: Young women remain disproportionately vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, partly due to gaps in access to structure and evidence-based sexual health education. Although comprehensive sexual health education is widely advocated, evidence regarding its effectiveness in improving sexually transmitted infection prevention and sexual health knowledge among young women in low- and middle-income settings remains limited. AIM: To evaluate the impact of health education on knowledge and sexually transmitted infections prevention in young married women. METHOD: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 160 young married women aged 18-25 years attending a primary healthcare center, Port Said City, Egypt. Participants received a structured sexual health education program focusing on safe sexual practices, contraception, and sexually transmitted infection prevention. Sexual health knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and infection-related outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention using validated assessment tools. RESULTS: Following the educational intervention, participants demonstrated statistically significant improvements in sexual health-related knowledge and attitudes. Positive changes were also observed in reported health practices, including a reduction in risk-related behaviors and an increase in preventive practices after the intervention (p < 0.001). Additionally, overall sexual health outcome scores showed a significant improvement, indicating the effectiveness of the educational program. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive sexual health education contributes to improved knowledge related to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and supports the adoption of healthier personal health practices among young women. These findings underscore the value of structured educational interventions as an important public health nursing strategy for promoting reproductive health and preventing infection. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that structured reproductive and sexual health education be integrated into community-based and educational health programs, with ongoing evaluation to ensure responsiveness to young women's sexual and reproductive health needs.