Pregnant young women’s attitudes about microbicides: the anticipated influence of the grandmother and father of the baby on microbicide use

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny K. R. Francis ◽  
Lauren Dapena Fraiz ◽  
Marina Catallozzi ◽  
Ariel M. deRoche ◽  
Christine Mauro ◽  
...  

Grandmothers and fathers of the baby may influence pregnant women’s microbicide use. Pregnant young women’s attitudes about grandmothers’ and fathers’ role in decision-making and their involvement in microbicide use were assessed. Participants (n = 108) had a mean age of 20.2 years. The majority anticipated that the grandmother, father or both would have a decision-making role. Greater grandmother involvement in microbicide use was significantly associated with being younger, having no reproductive tract infection or contraceptive-ring-use history. Greater father involvement in use was associated with being in a relationship with him. Strategies for engaging grandmothers and fathers in microbicide use should be developed.

Author(s):  
Indira Guntoory ◽  
Narasinga R. Tamaraba ◽  
Lakshmana R. Nambaru ◽  
Alina S. Kalavakuri

Background: Vaginal discharge is the commonest reproductive tract infection among rural women in many community based studies in India. Recent evidence shows that the association between vaginal discharge and reproductive tract infection is weak. Psychosocial factors also contribute to vaginal discharge. So, the problem of vaginal discharge can be best understood not only in the biomedical perspective but also in the socio-cultural perspective. Proper understanding of this problem helps in initiating appropriate medical education programmes and framing health policies. This study is aimed to determine the prevalence of vaginal discharge, the socio demographic factors associated with it, women’s perceptions of vaginal discharge and their treatment seeking behaviour.Methods: This is a hospital based cross sectional study conducted in the outpatient department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, MIMS, Nellimarla, Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Women with the complaint of vaginal discharge were interviewed with a pretested questionnaire and sociodemographic details, details of obstetric history and contraceptive practices, personal and menstrual hygiene were noted. Statistical analysis of the significance of association of different variables was done.Results: The prevalence of vaginal discharge was found to be 28.99%. Its prevalence was found to be more in the younger age group, illiterate, women belonging to lower socioeconomic status and those who were married at less than 18 years of age. History of induced abortion, home deliveries, permanent method of sterilization, availability of toilet facility at home were significantly associated with vaginal discharge. Lower abdominal pain, dysuria and backache were the most prevalent co-morbidities with vaginal discharge.Conclusions: Improvement of the literacy rate, economic status and women’s empowerment will help to mitigate the problem of vaginal discharge.


Author(s):  
Kalyan B. Saha ◽  
Ravendra K. Sharma ◽  
Bandhu Parihar ◽  
Bimla Devi ◽  
Arvind Verma ◽  
...  

Background: Reproductive tract infection (RTI) is a serious public health problem particularly among the women in reproductive age group. Tribal women particularly living in high altitude cold areas are more vulnerable to these infections as availability of water for domestic purpose is scarce hence affects personal hygiene.Methods: A door to door survey was conducted by canvassing a pre-designed interview schedule for capturing the reported symptoms of RTI among 494 women in the age group 15-49 years in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.Results: Around 26% of the respondents reported one or the other symptoms of RTI experienced by them during three months preceding the survey. The reported symptoms were mostly related to discharge.Conclusions: The study is carried out among women of high-altitude tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, where such data/information is not available. Maintenance of personal hygiene is poor, more than one-fourth women had one or the other symptoms of RTI. Lower economic status and personal hygiene practices are strongly associated with RTI. The findings of the study will draw attention of Scientists, Program managers to address the issues for qualitative improvement of female population of the area. Need to sensitise the masses on the issues of RTI and strengthen its outreach health services in the district.


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