A Study Of Prevalence Of Sexually Transmitted Infections & Factors Affecting It Among Married Women Of Reproductive Age Group
Prevalence Of Sexually Transmitted Infections & Factors Affecting It among Married Women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70284/njirm.v3i5.2111Keywords:
Sexually Transmitted Infections, Socio-economic & demographic factorsAbstract
Background: Reproductive tract infections (RTI), including sexually transmitted infections (STI), impose a burden of mortality & morbidity through their impact on reproductive & child health, resulting in serious economic, social & psychological consequences. Appropriate treatment of RTI/STI in combination with health education is of major public health importance. Objectives: To study prevalence of STI & factors affecting STIs among married women of reproductive age group in rural area of Parol Primary Health Centre under Thane district. Materials & Method: A community based, cross-sectional study was carried out among 415 married women of reproductive age group selected by stratified simple random sampling from each villages of respective sub centres of Parol PHC for a period of one year. Results: Of the surveyed women (415), prevalence of STI symptomatically was 39% & clinically 32.3%. The most common presenting symptom was vaginal discharge (42%) followed by Burning Micturition (24.7%), Vulval itching (17.3%), Lower abdominal pain (12.3%) & Genital ulcer (3.7%). Out of 415 surveyed women, 49.3% women were diagnosed as having cervicitis & 50.7% women were diagnosed as PID clinically. Almost more than half of the symptom-positive women were of 25-34 years of age. The prevalence of STI decreased with the level of education. Higher prevalence of STI was found in lower socio-economic group, women living in joint families, those having more number of children & women who were using reused cloth during menstruation. Conclusion: In view of the higher prevalence of STI among rural women, primary health care level needs to be strengthened in respect of reproductive health & awareness about reproductive health issues should be raised through suitable communication in order to bring about a positive behaviour change.
References
2. Mayaud P, Mabey D. Approaches to the Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Developing Countries: Old Problems and Modern Challenges, Sexually Transmitted Infection; 2004 80:174-82.
3. Gilson L, Mkanje R, Grosskurth H, Mosha F. Cost-effectiveness of improved treatment services for sexually transmitted diseases in preventing HIV-1 infection in Mwanza Region, Tanzania. Lancet 1997 350; 1805-09.
4. Rathore M, Leela Vyas, A K Bhardwaj. Prevalence of Reproductive Tract Infections amongst ever Married Women & Sociocultural Factors Associated with it. Journal of Indian Medical Association 2007; 105; 71- 78.
5. Panda S ,Sarangi L, Bebartta D, Parida S, Panigrahi O. Prevalence of RTI/STI among Women of Reproductive Age in District Sundergarh (Orissa). Indian Journal for the Practising Doctor 2007 4(1); 03-04.
6. Nandan D, Misra SK, Sharma A, Jain N. Estimation of Prevalence of RTIs/STDs among Women of Reproductive Age Group in District Agra. Indian J Community Med 2002 27; 110-13.
7. Rathore M, Swami S, Gupta B, Sen V, Vyas B, Bhargav A, Vyas. Community-based Study of
Self-reported Morbidity of Reproductive Tract among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Area of Rajasthan. Indian J Community Med 2003 28; 117-121.
