Prevalence of self-reported reproductive infection symptoms and its risk factors among females of reproductive age group of rural Rajasthan: A community based cross sectional study

Joint Event on 9^th International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases & 6^th World Congress on Control and Prevention of HIV/AIDS, STDs & STIs

August 27-28, 2018 | Zurich, Switzerland

Pankaja Ravi Raghav, Akhil Dhanesh Goel and Vaishali Gautam

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res

Abstract :

Background: Globally according to WHO there are an estimated 357 million new infections of sexually transmitted infection, of them approximately half are from Asia. In developing countries, women are at high risk for several reproductive health problems especially RTI/STIs. Moreover, studies have shown that females of rural areas are affected as compared to urban areas. With early diagnosis and treatment, complications of STIs can be prevented. Keeping this background in mind present study was planned to estimate the prevalence and health seeking behavior about RTI/STI symptoms among the females of reproductive age group (15â??49 years) residing in rural area of Rajasthan. Methodology: It is a community based cross sectional study among females of reproductive age group residing in rural Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The study was conducted in village Meghalsia (population of 959 individuals) the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Jodhpur. A house to house survey was conducted and females of reproductive age group were identified. Affected respondents will be managed using syndromic management of RTI/STI. Ethical clearance was obtained from institutional ethical committee. Results: There are 173 females of reproductive age group in Meghalsia of which a sample of 105 (60.6%) respondent has been collected. The prevalence of self-reported symptoms of RTI/STI is 34.2%. Majority of the women had poor education status. All the respondents reported vaginal discharge [36 (34.2%)], followed by lower abdominal pain [14 (13.3%)], lower back ache [12 (11.4%)], itching per vaginum [5 (4.7%)] and burning micturition [5 (4.7%)]. Among the total participants screened there was lack of knowledge about general symptoms suggestive of RTI/STI, modes of transmission and methods prevention as only [11 (10.4%)] had knowledge about symptoms suggestive of RTI/STI, only 3 (2.8%) respondents were aware about the modes of transmission. A mere 3 (2.8%) participants were aware about role of condom in prevention for RTI/STI. Conclusion: Sexually transmitted infections are prevalent among the study population. There is need for health promotion and specific protection about prevention of RTI/STI in addition to early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Biography :

E-mail: raghavpankaja3@gmail.com