Perception of RTIs/STDs among Women of Reproductive Age Group

A cross sectional study was conducted during May-June 2010 among woman of reproductive age group (15-45 years) in the urban and the rural areas of Bareilly District to asses the level of awareness regarding RTIs/STDs. The two stage cluster sampling technique was adopted. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the study participants during the house to house surveys. Each woman of reproductive age of selected household was interviewed in private about her reproductive history, current knowledge, source of information and modes of transmission of RTIs/STDs. Statistical analysis was done with Epi Info computer software. Standard Normal Variate (SNV) Test for comparison of two groups’ proportion was done; z and p were calculated to know the significance of the proportions of two groups for comparison. Most of the women were aware of RTIs/STDs (80.32%) in urban areas whereas only 27.41% in rural areas were aware of these diseases. The television and radio was the main source of information in both rural (41.17% & 32.94%) and urban areas (TV-90.36%, Radio48.19%). Key-words: Perception, RTIs(Reproductive Tract Infections), STDs(Sexually transmitted Diseases) Corresponding Author: Arun Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Rohilkhand Medical College & Hospital, Pilibhit Bypass Road, Bareilly (U.P.) -243006 email : [email protected] INTRODUCTION: In developing countries the mortality and morbidity due to reproductive tract infections/sexually transmitted infections (RTIs/STIs) are very high relative to those associated with other health problems . Women especially of reproductive age group are physically, mentally and socially more vulnerable to reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). There are at least 25 RTIs/STDs with a range of different symptoms. These diseases may be spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex. The consequences of RTIs/STDs are numerous and potentially devastating. These include post abortal and puerperal sepsis, ectopic pregnancy, fetal and perinatal death, cervical cancer, infertility, chronic physical pain, emotional distress and social rejection of women. Several studies have shown that women suffer from reproductive morbidities for a long time because of prevailing culture of silence The impact of RTIs on the transmission of HIV infection and the morbidity and mortality of HIV adds substantially to the total health impact of RTIs. The exact magnitude of the STIs burden is frequently unknown. Although passive STIs surveillance systems exist in some countries, the data is not always reliable or complete. The quality and completeness of the available data and estimates depend on the quality of STIs services, the extent to which patients seek health care, the intensity of case finding and diagnosis and the quality of reporting. As there were limited data available on RTIs/STDs among women of reproductive age group in UP especially western UP; the present study was carried out with the objectives to asses the level of awareness including current knowledge, source of information and modes of transmission of RTIs/STDs among Women of Reproductive Age Group of Rural and Urban areas in Bareilly district of western Uttar Pradesh. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was carried out during May-June 2010 in the urban and the rural areas of Bareilly. The study was a cross sectional study and the two stage cluster sampling technique was adopted to carry out this study in the Perception of RTIs/STDs among Women of Reproductive Age Group NJIRM 2011; Vol. 2(1).Jan-March eISSN: 0975-9840 pISSN: 2230 9969 P ag e2 6 Bareilly district. Fifteen clusters were from the rural and 15 were from urban areas of Bareilly district to give proportionate allocation to rural and urban population of district. Rural areas of the district were divided into total 15 blocks. These blocks were divided into villages and finally one village was selected as cluster form each block using simple random sampling technique. Finally 15 villages were selected as clusters. Urban areas were divided into 70 wards and 15 wards were selected using simple random sampling technique as clusters. A structured questionnaire was used during the household surveys. A house to house survey was carried out in the selected clusters till 20 ever married women in the age group of 15-45 years per cluster and 30 ever married women in the age group of 15-45 years in the last cluster in both rural and urban area were interviewed about her reproductive history, current knowledge, source of information and modes of transmission of RTIs/STDs. No medical examination was carried out of these women during survey. The total sample size of 620 women was calculated for study area including 50% from rural and 50% from urban areas and was analyzed finally. The study population contains all ever married women in their reproductive age group (15-45 years) in selected clusters. For cultural and social reasons exclusion criteria were adopted. These were (1) Unmarried Women and girls, (2) Women of age less than 15 years of age, (3) Women >45 years of age (4) All the pregnant and puerperal women. Each interviewed women explained about the objectives of the study and an informal verbal consent was taken before interview. RESULTS : Most of the women were aware of RTIs/STDs (80.32%) in urban areas whereas in rural areas the scenario was reverse as in majority (72.58%) of the women were not aware about RTIs/STDs however only 27.41% women in rural areas were aware of these diseases as compared to 80.32% women in urban areas [Table1]. These results were found to be statistically significant (Chi square x2= 175, df=1, p=0.000). Table 1: Women of Reproductive Age group (15-45 years) by their knowledge about RTIs/STDs Knowledge Rural (N=310) Urban (N=310)