Awareness and practices regarding sexually transmitted
infections among currently married males and
females in a rural district of Sindh

Imdad A. Khushk¹, Bakhtyar A. Shah², Razia M.Abbasi³,
Masood A. Mahesar⁴, Rukhsaar A. Shahani⁵

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the levels of awareness and practices regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a Rural District of Sindh – Pakistan.

Methodology: It was a cross – sectional survey conducted in Taluka Khipro, District Sanghar-Sindh during June 2004 in fifteen villages. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire by trained local male and female workers who interviewed door to door. A total of 116 currently married males and females were interviewed.

Results: Majority of males 34(29%) were in 25-29 years age group, while among females 32 (28%) fell in 20-24 years age group. Majority of males i.e. 79 (68%) and females 108(93%) was not educated. Only 36(31%) males or females knew symptoms of STIs like vaginal discharge, discharge from urethra and back pain. Twenty-five (22%) males and 12(10%) females reported that "only wife can have sexual disease". Two (2%) females shared that both (male and female) can have Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), AIDS and Hepatitis C. Male respondents (72%) knew different symptoms of STIs. Majority of males (78%) and females (51%) were aware about Hepatitis B and C infections. Majority of respondents had never heard about AIDS. Only 4% males were of the view that it spreads by inappropriate sexual relation. Sixty married females (52%) had knowledge about any contraceptive method. No subject (male or female) reported having ever used any contraceptive method.

Conclusion: This study depicts poor picture of a rural population in awareness and practices regarding STIs in particular and reproductive health in general in the target area. This was a limited study and to further explore reproductive health issues in rural areas, studies with larger sample size and stronger statistical evidence are required.

KEY WORDS: Sexually Transmitted Infections, Awareness, Behaviour, AIDS, Contraception.

Pak J Med Sci    October - December 2009 (Part-II)    Vol. 25 No. 6    992-996

How to cite this article:

Khushk IA, Shah BA, Abbasi RM, Mahesar MA, Shahani RA. Awareness and practices regarding sexually transmitted infections among currently married males and females in a rural district of Sindh. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(6):992-996.

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1. Dr. Imdad A. Khushk,
Sr. Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine
2. Bakhtyar A. Shah
Assistant Professor & Principal, School of Nursing
1-2: Faculty of Medicine & Allied Medical Sciences
Isra University Hyderabad, Sindh – Pakistan.
3. Dr. Razia M. Abbasi
Associate Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology,
Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences,
Jamshoro, Sindh – Pakistan.
4. Masood A. Mahesar
Executive Director, Research & Development
Foundation (RDF), Hyderabad, Sindh – Pakistan.
5. Dr. Rukhsaar A. Shahani
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine
ISRA University Hyderabad, Sindh – Pakistan.

Correspondence

Dr. Imdad A. Khushk
Faculty of Medicine & Allied Medical Sciences
Isra University Hyderabad, Sindh – Pakistan
Email: imdadkhushk@yahoo.com

* Received for Publication: June 19, 2009

* Revision Received: September 29, 2009

* Accepted: October 2, 2009
 

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