Reproductive tract infections among women attending to gynae department of Tribhuvan University teaching hospital Maharajgunj, Kathmandu.

Thesis Report.

ABSTRACT: Many women and men suffer from reproductive tract infections (RTIs), including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Women often suffer silently with reproductive tract infections. RTI often cause discomfort and lost economic productivity. Studies of the prevalence of these infections in South Asia have been hindered by low participant rates, and little is known about rates among the married women. A hospital based cross-sectional study or RTIs was conducted from July to November 2006 among the married women 15 to 49 years of age in Gynae Department of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. The women were questioned about the symptoms, received pelvic and speculum examinations and collected samples for laboratory test. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Board, Institute of Medicine, maharajgunj, Kathmandu. Verbal and written consent was taken from each patient. A total of two hundred sixty nine samples (104 vaginal discharge, 104 endocervical discharge and 61 blood samples) from 104 patients were examined by microscopy, culture and serological procedure for identify the causative agents of RTIs. On average, the women were 35.5 years old. Majority had more than five years of education, but 35.5% did not have any. The Brahmin ethnic group (32.69%) was highest in study population. Majority husbands (31.73%) were services holder. Seventy percent women were living with husband, 9.62 percent were separated, 1.96 percent was divorced, 0.96 percent was widow and 13.46 percent husbands were living out of home. Women mean age at menarche was 14.5 years. Majority had been pregnant twice or thrice and majority had having one or two living child, but 9.62 percent were menopause. Six percent women had sterility, 15.38 percent had still birth and 6.73 percent miscarriage. Over all 26.39 percent (71/269) samples were positive for different etiological agents of STIs/RTIs. Among STIs caused by various organisms Candida albicans (25%) showed highest prevalence. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnose in 18 percent and 12 percent had Trichomonas vaginalis. Prvalence of Neisseria gonorrhoae was 6.76 percent from gram staining and 5.67% from culture. Women with 25-35 years ago more likely to associate with laboratory diagnosed SITs than those with others age groups. Women with more than five years of education were less likely to have STIs than those with no education. The infection rate was highest found in laborers wife. Infection rate (39.42%) was highest in women living with husband none of the cases were positive for Hepatitis B infection in women. Low economic, social status and illiterate women had high prevalence of RTIs Education and outreach are needed to reduce the stigma, embarrassment and lack of knowledge related to RTIs. Key words : Reproductive tract infection, Married women, Gynae Department, Teaching Hospital

Eng.