Revathi S ¹,Ramesh ²,Takalkar A³,Madhumita ⁴

¹Assistant professor, Department of Community Medicine, Navodaya Medical College and Research Centre, Raichur, Karnataka, ²Assistant professor, Department of Community Medicine, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Gulbarga, Karnataka, ³ Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Navodaya Medical College and Research Centre, Raichur, Karnataka, ⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Tamilnadu.

Corresponding Author: : Dr. Revathi S, Assistant professor, Department of Community Medicine Navodaya Medical College and Research Centre, Raichur
Email: drrevs@yahoo.in

Background:Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are the major cause of morbidity among women especially in rural India. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of reproductive tract infections among rural women aged 15-49 years in Raichur district of Karnataka and to analyse the influence of socio-economic and socio-demographic factors related to RTIs.

Materials and Methods:A community-based cross sectional study was conducted among 380 women of 15-49 years in Singanodi village of Raichur district of Karnataka. Women were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Variables included were such I-demographic and Soc io- economic characteristics, symptoms of RTIs, treatment taken for RTIs, etc.

Results: The prevalence of RTIs among the study population was 58.9%. The most common symptom was vaginal discharge (27%) followed by abdominal pain (20%) and dyspareunia which constituted 19% of the symptomatic women.The prevalence of RTIs was more among women aged 25 years and above (72%) compared to those below 25 years (42%). Married women (56.8%) had a higher prevalence compared to unmarried women. Illiteracy, parity of the order ≥3, IUD usage was associated with higher prevalence of RTI and this was statistically significant (P=0.0001).

Conclusion: The high prevalence of RTIs was observed in the present study. Age, marital status and IUD use were associated with reproductive tract infections. Illiteracy and unawareness about menstrual hygiene were the reasons for higher prevalence of RTIs in our study.

Keywords : Prevalence, RTIs, rural, women