Care seeking for STI symptoms in Pakistan.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the frequency of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among sex workers and drug users in Pakistan.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted on 3640 sex workers, injection drug users and truckers about STI symptoms within the past year and currently and the care they sought for them.


RESULTS
Nearly half (46%) reported STI symptoms in the past 12 months and 55% went for treatment. Most of the care sought was from the private sector and more by IDUs and female sex workers. Increasing age or having a genital ulcer predicted care seeking.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest the need to understand the factors determining care seeking among members of high risk groups; and emphasizing the role of the private health care providers in treatment and control of STIs.
Khan
Adnan Ahmad
AA
Research and Development Solutions, Islamabad.
Naghma-e-Rehan
Qayyum
Kanwal
K
Khan
Ayesha
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult