Reproductive tract infections: Attitude and barriers among marginalized fisher women in Kerala, South India.

Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are the cause of severe gynecological and maternal morbidity in India. In marginalized communities, women persevere quietly when faced with a culturally sensitive health issue such as an RTI. To hypothesize on the differential health behavior and low levels of reported incidents among women living in marginalized communities, we undertake an exploratory study in a coastal fishermen community in South India. We identify barriers influencing decisions to seek curative and preventive medical care. Public health practitioners and social workers may find our recommendations relevant for addressing health issues in marginalized communities.

[Study on the prevalence of reproductive tract infections and influencing factors on women in rural areas of the Middle and Western regions in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence on reproductive tract infections (RTIs) status and influencing factors of women living in the rural areas of the middle and western regions in China and to develop the control strategy for RTIs. METHODS: Questionnaire interview and gynecological examination were carried out to collect the related information. SPSS 16.0 was used to carry on the statistical analysis. RESULTS: 768 subjects (52.8%) had heard of RTIs, but 112 of them (14.6%) did not know the symptoms of it, 244 people (31.8%) do not know the infects of RTIs, 132 women (17.2%) did not know how to prevent RTIs. Gynecological examination revealed that 1111 subjects (76.4%) had at least one kind of RTIs, where the highest prevalence was chronic cervicitis, 621 women (42.7%) suffered from this, followed by bacterial vaginosis with 423 women suffered, accounted for 29.1%. Data from influencing factors analysis showed that region, educational level, occupation, whether having healthy check-up or not in the past 1 year and the habits of the reproductive women all contributed to the prevalence of the RTIs. Multiple regression analysis for influencing factors showed that reproductive aged women, living in western region, sharing the basin of washing genitals with others, not drying the cleaned underwear, not cleaning the pudendum before sexual intercourse and at 25 - 40 of age, having high prevalence of RTIs. CONCLUSION: RTIs is prevalent among women in the rural areas. Intervention programs should be done according to the influencing factors while knowledge on RTIs among women needs to be improved, including promotion on healthy behavior, quality of medical institutions and male participation.