Reproductive Tract Infections: Barriers for Seeking Health Behaviors, Knowledge and Attitude Among Married Women in Southwest Iran, 2014

Banafsheh Tehrani Neshat¹*, Mahsa Sabetghadam² and Somayeh Sabetghadam²

¹Department of Nursing, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University,Jahrom,Iran. ²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1513

ABSTRACT:

Sexually transmitted infections are a worldwide major concern in developing countries, particularly in women. Since knowledge plays an important role in attitude’s mode and performance of individuals, therefore a descriptive study was performed to evaluate the level of knowledge and attitudes of married women in southern Iran about sexually transmitted infections. The descriptive study was sectional and 350 married women in the range age of 14- 59 year, participated in the study. The selection of samples was done among women who had referred to the women clinics in Jahrom which locates in Fars province. Data were collected by using a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, questions related to knowledge (24 items) and questions related to attitudes (12 items), were collected during 3 months by interview. Collected Data were analyzed by using the SPSS software, descriptive statistics tests and non- parametric (K-square) statistics tests and logistic regression. The mean age was 30.39±7.77 year old. Most women had good knowledge. Women awareness about the prevention of genital tract infections were includes: “gynecological infections can be prevented by compliance of the health tips” (96.6 %), “after treatment of infection the couple should always observe health principles to prevent from re-infection” (95.2 %), “gynecological infections cause redness, itching and burning sensation in the genital area” (92.2 %). The maximum level of attitude was related to the following options: “observe personal health like: daily change of underwear is beneficial in the prevention of infection” (78.8 %), “on time treatment of gynecological infections causes her personal health and also her husband and children health” (76.6 %), “being awareness of the causes and methods of transmission of gynecological infections, is very important to prevent them” (72.3 %). K-square test showed that there are significant differences between the level of knowledge and age (p<0.001), the level of knowledge and living location (p 0.001) and between attitude modes and age (p 0.001) and between attitude modes and education (p 0.002). Logistic regression test showed a significant association between level of knowledge and women’s job. (p = 0.01). Given that, health and therapeutic personnel have important role in training of prevention methods from disease and in correct and healthy lifestyles, so established of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinics, to meet the needs for screening, treatment and health education which relate to sexually transmitted infections in all age- wise groups and all the socio- economic classes is useful.

KEYWORDS: knowledge; attitude; women; reproductive- tract infections and sexually transmitted infections.

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