title: Self-reported sexually transmitted disease symptoms and treatment-seeking behaviors in China.
abstract: In recent decades, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have reemerged and spread as a major public health problem in China. However, little effort has been made on promoting appropriate health-seeking behaviors among people living with STDs. A randomly selected sample of market vendors in Fuzhou (N = 4510) was recruited and assessed from 2003 to 2004 to examine their choice of pharmacy versus hospital, and folk remedy versus Western medicine when having STD symptoms. Approximately 11.3% of the sample (4.0% of men and 17.8% of women) reported having had abnormal genital discharge or genital ulcer during the past 6 months. More (over 60%) people chose Chinese folk remedy to treat symptoms or prevent transmission when they had genital discharge and/or genital ulcer. Approximately 30% of study participants with reported STD symptoms visited pharmacies only to seek treatment, and 17% visited neither hospital nor pharmacies. Visiting a pharmacy only for STD treatment was marginally significantly associated with being female (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.665, confidence interval [CI] = 0.980, 2.831) and never married (PR = 1.984, CI = 1.098, 3.594) after controlling for other potential confounders. Education about appropriate health-seeking behaviors to obtain effective treatment of STD must be a top priority to control the rapid spread of STDs in China.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jihui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Zunyou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chunqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rotheram-Borus
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Detels
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult