title: Care seeking for STI symptoms in Pakistan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Solutions, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Adnan Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.lastname: Naghma-e-Rehan
authors.forename: Kanwal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qayyum
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: 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