Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among married non-pregnant women living in a low-income suburb of Beirut, Lebanon
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Authors
Ramia, Sami
Kobeissi, Loulou
Kak, Faysal El
Shamra, Sarah
Kreidieh, Khalil
Zurayk, Huda
Issue Date
2012-09-17
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Reproductive Tract Infections , Laboratory Diagnosis , Community Care , Lebanon
Alternative Title
Abstract
Introduction: 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.
Methodology: 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.
Description
Citation
Ramia, S., Kobeissi, L., El Kak, F., Shamra, S., Kreidieh, K., & Zurayk, H. (2012). Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among married non-pregnant women living in a low-income suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Journal of infection in developing countries, 6(9), 680–683. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.1903
Publisher
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries