title: RTI/STI prevalence among urban and rural women of Surat: A community-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of RTI/STI among women in urban and rural areas of Surat and analyze the influence of socioeconomic, socio-demographic and other determinants possibly related to RTI/STI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based cross-sectional study. Women aged 15-49 years (n = 102) were interviewed and underwent a gynecological examination. Specimens were collected for laboratory diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, bacterial vaginosis (BV), candidiasis, hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 51 women in rural areas, 27 (53%) and among 51 women in urban areas, 35 (69%) were identified having RTI/STI. In total, the prevalence of trichomoniasis was found to be 41% by culture, 22% by wet mount, and 16% by Gram staining among urban women, while trichomoniasis among rural women was found to be 27% by culture, 18% by wet mount, and 14% by Gram staining. The prevalence of candidiasis was found to be 14% among urban women and 12% among rural women. By using Gram staining Nugent's criteria, the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was found to be 24% among urban women and 25% among rural women. The prevalence of syphilis was found to be 2% by VDRL both among urban as well rural women.
authors.affiliation: A-4 Professor's Quarter, New Civil Hospital, Government Medical College, Majura Gate, Surat - 395 001, India.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kosambiya
authors.forename: Vikas K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: Tanuja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chakraborty