title: Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among married non-pregnant women living in a low-income suburb of Beirut, Lebanon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to identify reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in married, non-pregnant women, aged 18 to 49 years, living in a low-income suburb of Beirut, and to investigate the relationship between demographic and socioeconomic factors and these infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 1,015 women recruited for the study, 502 were found eligible and 441 were medically examined. Appropriate specimens were collected for Nisseria gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a relatively high prevalence of RTIs (28.2%). The prevalence rates of different agents were as follows: 22.9% of the women were positive for T. vaginalis, 8.8% for candidiasis, 4.5% for bacterial vaginosis, and 1% for N. gonorrhea; none of the women were positive for C. trachomatis. Regression analysis showed that women between the ages of 30 and 39 were twice more likely to have T. vaginalis as compared to younger women. Furthermore, women whose husbands were taxi drivers were at higher risk of acquiring T. vaginalis (OR = 2.2) as compared with women whose husbands occupation was listed as skilled/unskilled. This conclusion can be drawn for the odds of developing any RTI (OR = 2.15). Moreover, those participants with the lowest income were twice as likely to have any RTI compared to those with higher incomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows a relatively high prevalence of RTIs (T. vaginalis mainly). It urges further in-depth research on cultural practices and economic factors to understand the pattern of sexual behavior in this community.
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. sramia@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramia
authors.forename: Loulou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobeissi
authors.forename: Faysal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: El Kak
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shamra
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kreidieh
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zurayk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018454:Spouses; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult