Awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among married women of reproductive age group in Barahi, Chiraigaun, India

Abstract

A survey was conducted using 139 rural married women to know awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Barahi, Chiraigaun, a rural primise in India. About one-fifth of the respondents were aware of STD, of which there was only one female who had heard of STD. Very few people sought for help from medical practitioners and less than one-fifth of the diseased people failed taking medicine regularly. Treatment cost ranged from Rs 10 to 5,000. Mass media like TV was not popular among rural people. Health workers were effective means of propagating knowledge and creating awareness. None of the diseased persons were using condom while 10% of non-diseased respondents used condom. No awareness program on health was conducted in the locality within a year. None of the respondents were able to tell whether STD’s and HIV were same or different.

Key words: Sexually transmitted disease (STD); health worker; condom.

DOI: 10.3126/jcmsn.v6i3.4068

Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2010, Vol. 6, No. 3 pp.8-14