Environmental risk factors associated with RTI/STD symptoms among women in urban slums

To link environmental factors with prevalence of RTI/STD symptoms among women in the urban slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh and also to investigate if there are differences in levels of RTI/STD prevalence among the slums. Fourteen slums from Dhaka city were the secondary units for this study, households were selected according to systematic sampling. One woman from each selected household was interviewed and a total of 3000 women forms the sample. Several RTI/STD symptoms were prompted to them and their reported prevalence in the last on year was documented in structured questionnaires. Almost 65% women were found to have reported at least one RTI/STD symptom in the last one year. Final parsimonious model using multilevel logistic regression of prevalence of RTI/STD symptoms on various correlates found two environmental factors to be significant. Women were more likely to report symptoms if their houses were located more than 10 yards away from the toilet, and they did not practice proper garbage disposal habits. However, age of the woman was the most significant predictor of RTI/STD symptoms, older women having reporting more symptoms compared to women aged below 19. Most slums had similar level of RTI/STD prevalence, only one slum had significantly lower ones. Environmental factors seem to have significant correlationship with reporting of RTI/STD symptoms in the urban slums. Tackling women's reproductive health is more a multisectoral approach than establishment of health clinics alone.