A Health Seeking Behavior of the Women of Urban Slums of Puducherry Regarding Reproductive Tract Infections

Author(s):  
Arjit Kumar
Author(s):  
Preety Doley ◽  
Geeta Yadav ◽  
Monika Gupta ◽  
Sumathi Muralidhar

Background: Reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted infections are an important public health problem among women of reproductive age group in developing countries. The perceptions or taboos related to RTIs act as an obstacle for seeking treatment ultimately leading to complications. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, health seeking behavior and barriers for treatment of reproductive tract infections among married women of reproductive age in Delhi.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken in an urban field practice area of department of Community Medicine of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi from November 2017 to April 2019. Sample size of 270 was collected using predesigned and pre- tested questionnaire by systematic random sampling.Results: Mere 16.6% of the women knew about symptoms of RTI/STIs. Out of 81 women having RTI/STI in past 3 months 30% did not seek treatment and out of 70% who took treatment for RTI, 30% did not complete treatment. Majority of the women who sought treatment preferred government hospital. The main barrier for seeking treatment was embarrassment, not considering it as an important health problem, lack of time.Conclusions: The overall knowledge about symptoms, mode of spread of RTIs/STIs was very poor among the study participants. Women seeking treatment are not completing it. Thus, there is need to emphasize on spreading knowledge about symptoms, mode of spread, need for treatment and its completion and clearing barriers related to RTI/STI among women. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-33
Author(s):  
Saleha Afreen ◽  
Vidhya Wilson ◽  
Sai Surendranath

Introduction: Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are recognized as public health problem and rank second after maternal morbidity and mortality because of loss of healthy life among women of reproductive age. National family Health Survey-4 (2015-2016) has reported that 23.5% of the women were suffering from reproductive tract infections. RTIs are considered not just a medical problem but also seen as a symptom of wider social pathology in the community. Objectives: To study the prevalence of reproductive tract infections and its socio-demographic determinants among the women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) in urban slums. To assess the health seeking behavior among the women suffering from reproductive tract infections. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the women of reproductive age group (15-49 yrs) residing in slums of urban field practice area of tertiary care teaching hospital during the period from June 2017 to October 2018. A total of 300 women were selected by simple random sampling technique. A pre designed and pre tested semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting the data.Thedata was analyzed using SPSS 20.0 Soft ware. Results and Conclusion: The prevalence of RTIs among the women was 22.3%. Vaginal discharge, 57(85%) and pain abdomen 39 (58.2%) were the most common symptoms. The socio demographic factors significantly associated with RTIs were illiteracy and low socio economic status. Women using cloth during menstruation and having dysmenorrhea were found to be associated risk factors for RTIs. Women having > 3 children, 26(29.2%) and using IUCD, 16(50%) as a method of contraception were found to be at risk of RTIs. Health seeking behavior of the women suffering from RTI was found to be poor, 13(19.4%)


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL4) ◽  
pp. 2117-2123
Author(s):  
Ann Merrin George ◽  
Leena K C

Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are silent epidemics and put a heavy toll on women in developing countries. Women, because of their ignorance and socio-cultural inhibitions, hardly seek treatment for RTIs. Women self-help groups (SHGs) if adequately trained, can play an active role in creating awareness and promote healthy behaviours among women. The present study aimed to evaluate the Effectiveness of STAR (Self-help group Training to Alleviate Reproductive tract infection) program on knowledge, practices, skills and health-seeking behaviours on RTIs among self-help group women in the reproductive age group. A quasi-experimental (non-equivalent control group) study with repeated follow-up was done among 63 women belonging to the selected SHG units. Women in the intervention group (n=33) underwent a training program on RTIs and had regular monthly follow-up for 6months, and the comparison group (n=30) only had a routine follow-up. Post-test observations were conducted at the end of three months and six months. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA using SPSS package version 16. There was a significant difference in the knowledge, practice, skill and health-seeking behaviour scores at different points of time (P<0.001). However, the between-group pairwise comparison revealed that the training program was effective in improving the mean knowledge (P=0.001), skill (P=0.014) and health-seeking behaviour (P=0.034) scores and had no effect on the practice score (P=0.74). The STAR program was found to be effective in improving the knowledge, skill and health-seeking behaviours of the self-help group women.


2005 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Durr-e- Nayab

A woman’s access to health care, in physical, social, and psychological contexts, depends on her health beliefs and her socio-economic and demographic background. As in most developing countries, the health system in Pakistan is a combination of modern and traditional medicine, and the nature of care sought again depends on the individual’s health beliefs and background characteristics. This paper thus not only focuses on whether women seek help or not when sick, but also on the differentials that exist in the health-seeking behaviour among women with different backgrounds. It finds that less than half the women reporting any symptom related to reproductive tract infections seek help, while for some symptoms the proportion seeking help goes down to a mere one-fifth. The decision to seek help depends on a woman’s educational and economic status, the extent to which she is worried about the symptom, duration of experiencing the symptom, and inter-spousal communication about the symptom. Lack of finances to access any health service and considering the symptom as something common not needing attention are the two main reasons for not seeking help. The choice of the healthprovider consulted for a symptom is linked to the perceived cause of the symptom, but allopathic doctors are preferred by the majority of women seeking health care.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-70
Author(s):  
Poonam P Shingade ◽  
Yasmeen Kazi ◽  
Madhavi LH

Sexually Transmitted Infections/Reproductive Tract Infections (STIs/RTIs) are a major public health problem and a leading cause of morbidity among men and women in developing countries. The aim of the study is to explore treatment seeking behavior among the married women of reproductive age presented with symptoms of STI/RTI. A hospital-based observational study was carried out at the STI/RTI Clinic of Urban Health Centre, Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, Mumbai, India. The study involved a total of 273 married females who attended clinic for their symptoms during January to March 2012. Patients were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire to explore the detail of the treatment seeking behavior regarding STIs/RTIs. Out of total women who participated in the study, only 47.6% of the women with STIs/RTIs symptoms sought health care. Among those who did not seek treatment, 58.65 % females were belonging to 21-25 years of age group. Maximum 65.6% females who were illiterate had not sought any treatment for symptoms of these diseases as compared to 65% who had taken treatment for the presented symptoms who were educated up to higher secondary and above level. 62.5% females belonging to class V had never sought treatment as compared to 100% women who were classified to class I. The poor health seeking behavior was associated with literacy and socioeconomic class of the participants. Private sector was the most favored place for taking treatment by them. Commonest reason for not seeking treatment was no female doctor at clinic. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) sessions, about STI symptoms and the benefits of treat-ment, especially targeted at women and low socioeconomic groups might be an immediately feasible measure that will help to reduce the burden of the disease.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.5(2) 2015: 65-70


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