Assessment of knowledge and behavioral risk factors of reproductive tract infections among married women of 15-49 years in rural areas of Haldwani block, Uttarakhand

J Family Med Prim Care. 2024 Oct;13(10):4706-4711. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_783_24. Epub 2024 Oct 18.

Abstract

Background: One of the most serious public health issues in India is reproductive tract infections (RTIs), which have a profound effect on the lives of men and women, as well as their families and communities.

Objectives: To describe the sociodemographic traits, assess women's RTI knowledge, and determine which behavioral risk factors are involved in female RTI.

Methods: Using a 30-cluster sampling approach, a cross-sectional study design was employed to examine RTIs in 30 villages located in the Haldwani block of the district Nainital.

Results: It was shown that just 7.6% of women knew enough about RTIs. Among the 450 women surveyed, the percentage of RTI cases was significantly lower for those who used the barrier method during menstruation (7.7%), had more than three children (25.7%), had a trained person deliver their baby in a hospital (24.1%), used condoms as a family planning method (5.6%), used sanitary pads during menstruation (25.6%), and maintained good personal hygiene (22.4%).

Conclusion: The study revealed that the participants' understanding of RTI was lacking.

Keywords: Behavioral risk factors; knowledge; reproductive tract infections; syndromic approach.