Risk factors and impacts of sexually transmitted diseases among adult females in Cairo

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on ninety sexually transmitted disease [STD] adult female patients, attending Dermato-Venereology and Gynaecology Clinics, Al-Hussein University Hospital and an equal number of females as controls. The aim of the study was to determine sociodemographic, sexual and health care behaviours risk factors for STDs and to determine their impacts on the studied females. A retrospective, case-control, clinic based study was chosen to perform this research. Vaginal, cervical and urethral swabs and smears were taken. Also, scrapes from any suspicious lesions together with blood samples were taken from STD patients for various laboratory examinations. The most common STD was candidiasis [35.6%]. Shared house and unskilled occupations were the most important sociodemographic risk markers, odds ratio [OR] =11.62 and 2.92, respectively. While, vaginal douche use and divorce were the most important gynaecological and reproductive risk factors, OR=7.16 and 4.06, respectively. Furthermore, premarital sexual practice and non-vaginal sexual practice were the most important sexual behaviours risk factors, OR=13.40 and 10.97, respectively. Also, previous infection with STDs and no partner referral were the most important health care behaviours risk factors, OR=6.45 and 4.93, respectively. Moreover, no religious obligation and drugs and/or alcohol use were the most important life style risk markers, OR=12.89 and 6.77, respectively. Lastly, history of pelvic inflammatory disease [18.9%] and pregnancy wastage [17.8%] were the most important impacts of STDs