Prevalence and risk factors of presumptive urinary tract infection in a rural community

ABSTRACT

Urinary tract infection [UTI] is an important and less investigated public health problem. Community-based information regarding magnitude and determinants of UTI is inadequate in South-Asia including Pakistan. This study reports prevalence and risk factors of UTI in a rural community of Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. Trained female interviewers conducted the interviews using a pre-tested Sindhi questionnaire during a cross-sectional survey carried out in 8 villages of rural Jamshoro, Sindh from July-September 1997. Women reporting increased frequency of urine with burning sensation, with or without feeling of pain or fever while passing urine during the 3 months prior to interview were presumed to have UTI. No laboratory tests were performed to confirm it. We interviewed 738 ever married women with 2% refusal rate. One hundred twenty-five women [17%] had symptoms consistent with UTI, while 18% reproductive age women [15-49] were using a modern contraceptive. Women with UTI were 2.7 times more likely to be current user of Intra-uterine contraceptive device[IUCD]/condom [95% CI, 1.3-5.6], and 1.6 times more likely to be housewives by occupation [95% CI, 1.0 - 3.0] as compared to women who did not have UTI. UTI among IUCD/condom users may reflect existence of unhygienic conditions during application of procedure or spread of infection by the thread of IUCD. The quality of life is affected in women with UTI and may have serious consequences of developing renal damage. This warrants greater attention for reproductive health needs of the women, and health education for hygienic/safe use of family planning methods: