Socio-Demographic Determinants of Reproductive Tract Infection and Treatment-Seeking Behaviour in Rural Indian Women

Ramesh Chellan, Jawaharlal Nehru University

In developing countries, women are at risk for several reproductive health problems especially Reproductive Tract infection/Sexual Transmitted Infection (RTI/STI). This paper examines effect of socio-economic and demographic factors on prevalence of RTI/STI and treatment seeking behaviour by using data of 379124 currently married women (15-44 years) in rural India from Reproductive and Child Health-Rapid Household Survey-1&2, 1998-99. To estimates net effect of the each variable on likely to reporting symptoms of RTI/STI and probability of seeking treatment, logistic regression model was applied. The study reveals, 29.1 percent of women reported any one symptoms of RTI/STI and 34.6 percent have taken treatment among them. Illiterate women, women living with kachcha houses, early marriage, pregnancy wastage and contraceptive user are significantly more likely to report symptom of RTI/STI. Women with higher education, higher age at marriage and living in pucca houses are more likely to seek treatment from different health sectors.