The burden and determinants of reproductive tract infections in women attending obstetrics and Gynaecology OPD from a tertiary teaching care centre in north India: Requires awareness among public

Introduction: Reproductive Tract Infections (STI/RTI) are a common public health problem. RTIs often cause discomfort and lost economic productivity. Aims: to ascertain the bacterial, fungal and parasitic causes of RTI in women attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology OPD, to co-relate the causes of RTI with various epidemiological and clinical parameters, to co-relate the occurrence of RTI with infertility. Results: Out of 93 samples 62 showed growth and 31 were sterile. Out of 62 positive samples 35 were Candida species (28 pure species and 7 grown with others) and 27 were as follows- Gardnerella vaginalis (4), Trichomonas vaginalis (8), Trchomonas vaginalis with others (enterobacteriaceae family) (4) and mixed bacterial growth (11). NoNeisseria gonorrhoeae was isolated. Out of Candida isolate, Candida albicans was the most common one (80%). RTI was most prevalent in 21-30 years age group women having poor hygiene. Most women were multiparous and having complain of curdy discharge. Conclusion: Most female patients were unaware of or ignorant about vaginal discharge and pain lower abdomen that will lead to PID. Proper education, moral support and examination of vaginal discharge irrespective of their ignorant complain will definitely lower the morbidity of female RTI.