Study of Profile of patients attending Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) clinic in rural population

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent worldwide. Factors like illiteracy, lack of awareness regarding condom usage and safe sexual practice among others have been implicated as a reason behind increase in STIs and HIV prevalence. Awareness about STIs and healthy sexual practices is very less among rural population.

This study was thus done to evaluate factors like education, marital status, awareness and practice of condom usage in patients attending STI clinic in belonging to rural area.

160 patients attending to STI clinic attached with department of Dermatology & Venerology at Medical college, Agroha, Haryana, India, during period of January to September 2009 were studied. Sexual history was evaluated in detail related to number of partners, type of partner and mode of exposure. Patients were asked regarding their awareness and knowledge about STIs and practice of condom usage. Simple percentage and proportion method was applied to the data obtained.

Age of the patients ranged from 15–58 years. 97 patients (60%) were females while males accounted for remaining 40%. In present study 132 patients (82.5%) had no awareness regarding STI transmission. Practice of condom usage was low though 144 (90%) patients had heard of condom. Only 31 (19.37%) patients in present study knew that condom use prevent against STI/HIV transmission besides preventing pregnancy.

Study highlights lack of education and awareness about condom usage in the patients attending to STI clinic. Hence there is need of strengthening counseling and awareness strategies in rural population.