Health seeking for STI/RTI-is it detrimental to effecitve HIV prevention effort?

Thiruvalluvan, E.; Shenbagavalli, R.; Mohana, M.

SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis, Lung Disease and HIV/AIDS; 2006; III; 56-59.

Abstract: Background: Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI) Sexually Tract Infection (STI) are the cause of significant morbidity among poor women. Particularly ulcerative STIs are the important co-factors for HIV transmission. Previous studies have shown that 70% urban slum dwellers and 92% among village women had experienced at least one gynecological problem. Enabling rural women to seek health care early could substantially reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Though there are different reasons for not seeking health we wanted to document what exactly prevents women from seeking healthcare. Hence this diagnostic study was undertaken to document the experiences of STI/RTI among rural women.

AIM: To document the level of knowledge, existing problems and reasons for not seeking health-care suggest appropriate means of improving health seeking behavior of rural women in the backward district of Tamilnadu, India.

Methods: A semi structured interview schedule was developed and administered among rural women. Respondents were selected from 10 villages of Virudunagar Taluk and district, Tamilnadu, India.

Results: RTI/STI was found among 86% of the respondents but only 2% had ever sought treatment. Forty percent of the respondents showed the opinion that women bear the illness silently. Another 30% of the respondents felt that RTI/STI is shame to women. Knowledge on STIs was lacking among 36% of the respondents.

Conclusion: Prevalence of STI/RTI is quite high among rural women. But rarely women seek health-care. To improve the quality of the life and reduce the risk of HIV transmission multi prolonged strategy is needed to treat RTI/STIs early through behavior change communication supported with adequate infrastructure.

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