A STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF REPRODUCTIVE TRACT INFECTION / SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND ITS DETERMINANTS IN ADULT POPULATION OF KANPUR NAGAR

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Reproductive tract infection is a broad term that includes sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as other infections of the reproductive tract or reproductive tract infections (RTI) that are not transmitted through sexual intercourse. Thus reproductive tract infections (RTIs) include three types of infection:1) Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, chancroid, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 2) Endogenous infections, which are caused by overgrowth of organisms normally present in the genital tract of healthy women, such as bacterial vaginosis or vulvovaginal candidiasis and 3) Iatrogenic infections, which are associated with improperly performed medical procedures such as unsafe abortion or poor delivery practices. According to World Health Organization (WHO),1 Global estimates in 2005 was 448 million new cases of curable STIs (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis) occur annually in adults aged 15-49 years. In India, the annual incidence of STIs is estimated to be 5%. The prevalence of self-reported morbidity varies in different regions of India. Many community-based studies in India have shown the prevalence of RTIs to range from 39% to 84%. OBJECTIVES • To study the prevalence of RTIs in study subjects. • To study determinants of RTIs in study subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study conducted among adult population (>18 years) in the area served by RHTC, Kalyanpur, Kanpur. A Predesigned and pre-tested questionnaire was used to record data about the biosocial profile, knowledge and their treatment seeking behavior regarding RTIs. Data was entered in excel sheet and appropriate statistical tools were used to analyze data. RESULTS Prevalence of RTIs in female study subjects were 26.56% and 12.08% in male subjects. Maximum (85.57%) of symptomatic male subjects was not bathing daily. Maximum (71.43%) symptomatic male subjects were not cleaning private parts daily. RTIs are significantly associated with hygienic practices and were found statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS RTI is more prevalent in women as compared to men. More emphasis should be given on IEC touching the areas like mode of transmission of RTIs, healthy, hygienic practices clinical manifestations, their impact on health and how to enhance the use of government health services for treatment of RTIs. KEYWORDS: Infections, Sexually, Women, RTIs, STIs & Health