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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Infectious Diseases: Epidemiology and Prevention
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1401474
This article is part of the Research Topic Women in Science: Infectious Diseases: Epidemiology and Prevention 2023 View all 17 articles

Women's Self-Reported Symptoms of Reproductive Tract Infection, Medical Consultations, and Factors Influencing Them in Less Developed Regions: Perimenopausal and Older Women in Need of Urgent Attention Author names

Provisionally accepted
Ruoyi Zhang Ruoyi Zhang 1,2Dan Kang Dan Kang 1Siyuan Yang Siyuan Yang 3Dehua Hu Dehua Hu 4Li Bai Li Bai 4Yongping Ao Yongping Ao 1Jiaojiao Chen Jiaojiao Chen 1Yuxian Nie Yuxian Nie 5Xiaowei Zhao Xiaowei Zhao 4Wei Xu Wei Xu 1*Qiuling Shi Qiuling Shi 1,5*
  • 1 College of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
  • 2 Xian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shaanxi Province, China
  • 3 School of Nursing, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
  • 4 Maternal and Child Health, The Maternity Service Centre of Lueyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Lueyang, Shaanxi, Lueyang, Shaanxi, China
  • 5 State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) represent a critical public health concern impacting women's health, particularly pronounced in developing countries. We aim to investigates the prevalence of self-reported RTI symptoms in women aged 18 to 65 and the factors influencing gynecological examination behavior and associated risks are explored.From May 6, 2022, to September 20, 2022, a comprehensive survey engaged 20,864 women aged 18 to 65 in 19 townships in Lueyang, Shaanxi. Each survey team, comprising a gynecologist, two female health center staff, and a master's student, conducted face-to-face questionnaire surveys in villages and households. The questionnaire featured three sections: prevalence of self-reported RTI symptoms, gynecological examination history, and factors influencing examination behavior.The high response rate of 98.69% yielded 20,590 valid questionnaires. Among surveyed women, 42.04% reported RTI symptoms, with a higher prevalence in those aged 30 and above, peaking at 44.88% in the 50-59 age group. Vulvar itching (24.73%), abnormal vaginal discharge (17.41%), and urinary tract irritation signs (11.73%) were most common. Elderly women (≥60) reported higher frequency and longer duration of symptoms. Only 9.88% of symptomatic women underwent gynecological examinations in 2022. Examination likelihood decreased with age, presenting a critical gap in healthcare utilization among older women. Reasons for checkups included routine checkups (47.02%), symptom concerns (41.29%), and the availability of free medical checkup programs (9.82%). Barriers included perceived lack of serious symptoms (23.7%), lack of necessity (4.41%) and lack of time (3.98%). Among those examined, 40.58% had a diagnosis of gynecological disorders, including pelvic inflammatory disease, human papilloma virus infection and cervical cancer.Conclusions: Widespread RTI symptoms, particularly in perimenopausal and older women, underscore the need for enhanced healthcare. Barriers to gynecological examinations include awareness, education, and accessibility issues. Strategies must prioritize health education, routine examinations, and improved healthcare infrastructure in underdeveloped regions.

    Keywords: Reproductive tract infection (RTI), Self-reported symptoms, gynecological examinations, Women's Health, Underdeveloped regions

    Received: 15 Mar 2024; Accepted: 08 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Kang, Yang, Hu, Bai, Ao, Chen, Nie, Zhao, Xu and Shi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Wei Xu, College of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
    Qiuling Shi, College of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

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