Cultural and personal behavioral factors and women's reproductive tract infections.
OBJECTIVE
To review the relationship between personal behavior and cultural factors and reproductive tract infections (RTIs).


METHODS
An English-language literature search using MEDLINE (1994-1998), Social Science Index (1994-1998), and informal discovery. Any original researches and reviews related to RTIs' epidemiology, behavior and culture were selected.


RESULTS
RTIs have become a silent epidemic that is devastating women's lives each year.


CONCLUSIONS
The influencing factors include sexual behavior, health related behavior (preventive health behavior, health-seeking behavior, reproductive behavior etc.) and culture, belief, etc. A holistic point of view should be taken.
Guo
S
S
First Teaching Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100034, China. mchcent@public3.bta.net.cn
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*