A Community-based Study on the Prevalence of Reproductive Tract Infections/Sexually Transmitted Infections and their Associated Factors among Married Women of Reproductive Age in Delhi

Abstract

Introduction: Reproductive tract infections/sexually transmitted infections (RTIs/STIs) and their sequelae are an important public health problem, particularly among women. Although high prevalence of RTIs has been reported by community-based studies in India, very few of them have included asymptomatic women. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of RTIs/STIs based on symptoms, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations and factors associated with it among married women of reproductive age in an urbanized village in Delhi. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among married women in the age group of 15–49 years, residing in an urban field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital from November 2017 to April 2019. The study was carried out using an interviewer-administered questionnaire in the field followed by clinical examination and sample collection for investigations conducted at urban health training center. Statistical Data Analysis: Data were entered into MS Excel and analyzed using licensed the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0. Results: The prevalence of RTI/STI based on symptoms was 53.7%, clinical 39.2%, and laboratory confirmed 36.7%. The prevalence of laboratory-confirmed RTI/STI among asymptomatic women was 21.6%. Women using cloth during menstruation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.242), having a positive history of abortion (OR = 2.373), not using condoms during last sexual intercourse (OR = 1.998), and washing genital area with only water during menstruation (OR = 1.929) had higher odds of having RTI/STI. Conclusions: The prevalence of laboratory-confirmed RTI/STI among married women was quite high even among asymptomatic women indicating the need for opportunistic screening for RTI/STI among women visiting hospitals or health centers for other health problems for its early diagnosis and management.