A Hospital based Cross-Sectional Study on Association between Reproductive Tract Infection and Sexual Practices among Ever Married Females Attending STI/RTI Clinic

Background: Much research has been done on reproductive tract infections (RTIs), but no study exists about RTIs among rheumatoid arthritis women. Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of RTIs among reproductive-aged women with rheumatoid arthritis in Pune, India. Methods: This clinical-based, cross-sectional study enrolled a sample of 400 consenting Indian women aged 15 -49 years with a history of at least three months’ rheumatoid arthritis referring to a popular community center. Patients were interviewed comprehensively using previously validated relevant questionnaires. Women underwent gynecological examinations and vaginal smears (wet mount) by a microbiologist to diagnose candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis. Syphilis serological testing was performed for the study population. Results: The prevalence obtained was 39.3%. Infection with bacterial vaginosis was 32.0%, Candidiasis 6.5%, and trichomoniasis 0.8%. Syphilis seroconversion was not observed. Adjusting for confounding factors in logistic regression showed that four factors remained significant, including age under 30 years [AOR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2 - 4.9], living in a crowded and small one-room house [AOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2 - 5.1] , improper linen for menstruation bleeding [AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1 - 3.3], and oral disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs [AOR: 3.96, 95% CI: 1.9 - 7.9]. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a large burden of RTIs in women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Regular screening algorithms for RTIs are urgently required to prevent neglect and improve overall standard care in rheumatology practice. The presence of an oral disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug as a risk factor shows that more investigation is necessary in this case.

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Overuse of Antibiotics in Children Under Four Years Presenting to Al Jalila Children's Hospital with Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3475582 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Eman Almerashi ◽

Lemis Yavuz

Keyword(s):

Tract Infection ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infection ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Children's Hospital ◽

Upper Respiratory

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Trends and differences in sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW): a repeated cross-sectional study in Melbourne, Australia

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037608 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e037608

Author(s):

Mario Martín-Sánchez ◽

Richard Case ◽

Christopher Fairley ◽

Jane S Hocking ◽

Catriona Bradshaw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Centre ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sexual Practices ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Anal Sex ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Men And Women ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Receptive Anal Sex ◽

Sex With Men

ObjectivesIn the 2010s, there has been an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STI) in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Australia, and since 2015 also in urban heterosexuals. Men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW) have characteristics that may differ from both men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and heterosexual men. We aimed to compare the sexual practices and the trends in HIV/STI positivity between MSMO and MSMW.DesignRepeated cross-sectional study.SettingA sexual health centre in Melbourne, Australia.ParticipantsMSM aged 18 years and above who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre for the first time between 2011 and 2018. This includes 12 795 MSMO and 1979 MSMW.Primary outcome measuresDemographic characterics, sexual practices and HIV/STI positivity.ResultsCompared with MSMW, MSMO were more likely to practice anal sex and to have condomless receptive anal sex with casual male partners, and less likely to have a current regular relationship. Over the 8-year period, there was an increase in condomless receptive anal sex with casual male partners for both groups (MSMO: from 46.2% to 63.3%, ptrend <0.001; MSMW: from 41.3% to 57.9%, ptrend=0.011). Syphilis positivity increased in MSMO (from 5.5% to 7.9%, ptrend=0.012) and MSMW (from 0.9% to 6.4%, ptrend=0.004) and HIV remained stable. Gonorrhoea increased among MSMO from 2011 to 2014 (from 6.7% to 9.6%, ptrend=0.002), and remained stable from 2015 to 2018. MSMO had higher odds of testing positive for gonorrhoea (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.36, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.64), chlamydia (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.67), syphilis (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.22) and HIV (aOR 4.60, 95% CI 2.43 to 8.70) than MSMW.ConclusionsMSMW have overall lower condomless sex and lower HIV/STI positivity. In the last years, changes in sexual practices in MSM have affected both MSMW and MSMO leading to an increased STI risk.

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