A Cross-sectional Survey on Symptoms of Reproductive Tract Infections among reproductive-age Women of the Rural Population of Selected Community Area of Ludhiana, Punjab

Aneeta Sharma, Kiranjeet Kaur, Dona Boban

Abstract- Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in reproductive-age women or infections in reproductive organs is a frequently observed gynecologic problem. The prevalence of RTIs is not established in India. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge based on symptoms to find the prevalence of RTIs in reproductive-age women among the rural population of a selected community area Ludhiana, Punjab. A sample of 251 rural women who were available and willing to participate in the study were selected by convenience sampling technique. Data was collected from the participants with the help of a structured questionnaire to collect information based on symptoms of RTIs in the past six months. The prevalence of major symptoms of RTIs was 75.3% and minor symptoms in the sample was 5.6%. Prevalence of various subtypes under major RTI symptoms: vaginitis 13.5%, cervicitis 17.5%, lower abdominal pain syndrome 39.8%, genital ulcer 3.6%swelling in the groin area 42.6%.