The Prevalence of Reproductive Tract Infections Based on the Syndromic Management Approach Among Ever-Married Rural Women in Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction
Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are endemic among developing countries and common among females
specifically in the reproductive age group. The sequelae of this lead to infertility. The main reason behind
the high prevalence was found to be the lack of awareness about the disease and the stigma toward the
disease.
Aims and objectives
This study aims to assess the prevalence of reproductive tract infection based on the syndromic
management approach among ever-married rural women in the reproductive age group in the
Kancheepuram District.
Methodology
This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area of Chettinad
Hospital and Research Institute during the period from March 2016 to May 2017. The sample size taken was
330, and the sample size was arrived at by multistage random sampling and population proportion to size.
Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire of District Level Household Survey 4 (DLHS-4) on
RTI/sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Data were then entered in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp.,
Redmond, WA, USA) and analyzed using SPSS version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and results were
interpreted.
Results
The prevalence of RTI was found to be 50.3%, with the majority (61.3%) of women in the age group of 28-37
years, 52.85% among females living with spouses, and 57.9% from the Hindu community. The prevalence was
high among the lower-middle-class and nuclear families. The commonest symptom is vulval itching with
74.09%, and the least is boils with 0.9%. A significant association was noted between RTI and menstrual
hygiene practices and socioeconomic status (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
The prevalence was high among rural females, and the main reason behind it was the stigma and the lack of
awareness. Health education using various sources should be provided to get rid of these issues.