title: Prevalence of reproductive tract infections and their determinants in married women residing in an urban slum of North-East Delhi, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) have adverse implications on the health of the women. Community-based studies in India have shown a high prevalence of RTIs but here is a lack of sizeable literature from urban slums and resettlement areas.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to document the prevalence and determinants of RTIs in married women (15-49 years) residing in an urban slum in Delhi, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in an urban resettlement colony of Gokulpuri in the North-East district of Delhi. Systematic random sampling method was adopted to choose the study subjects, that is, married and non-pregnant women in the reproductive age group (15-49 years) residing in the study area. Data were collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire, through the house to house visits. The diagnosis of RTIs was made as per the World Health Organization syndromic approach. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 16 (Chicago, IL, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 802 women were interviewed. The mean age of study subjects was 30.79 ± 7 years. A total of 352 (43.9%) women currently had symptoms of RTIs. The most frequently reported symptoms included abdominal pain (68.2%), back pain (69.6%), and vaginal discharge (59.3%). Older women (≥25 years) (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.4-3.5), those belonging to the lower socioeconomic status (OR 2.1, 95% CI; 1.5-2.9), those using cloth during menses (OR 2.6, 95% CI; 1.6-4.3), those having more than three pregnancies (OR 1.8, 95% CI; 1.2-2.6) and those using an intrauterine contraceptive device (OR 11.8, 95% CI; 4.3-32.0) had higher odds of having RTIs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high case load was found based on the syndromic approach. Generating community awareness, ensuring proper menstrual hygiene, and improving the socioeconomic status would help in reducing the cases of RTI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhilwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Panna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nandini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Preena
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Delhi; married women; reproductive tract infections; risk factors; sexually transmitted infections; urban slum