Clinico-social profile and health seeking behavior of patients attending RTI/STI (Suraksha) clinic of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital

Introduction:Reproductive tract infections are mostly caused by sexual contact by a wide range of microorganisms ranging from bacteria to virus. Host factors like age, sex, marital status, demographic factors and social factors have all contributed in making sexually transmitted infections a major public health problem.Objectives: To find out the socio-demographic profile of patients attending RTI/STI clinic of North Bengal Medical College and hospital.Materials and methods: : A descriptive hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Suraksha clinic of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Sushrutnagar, from 1st April 2018 to 30th April 2018. A purposive sampling technique was used and data were collected by interview and record review using a pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured schedule.Results: Analysis of the collected data revealed that 75.6% of the study population were above 25 years and 88.5% of the study participants were female.17.9% of the study population was illiterate and 73.1% of the study participants belonged to the class V of socio-economic status according to modified BG Prasad scale. About a third (37.2%) of our study participants had heard about STD previously and 47.4% of the patients had used some form of contraception in their lifetime. Vaginal white discharge with lower abdominal pain was the commonest (35.9%) symptom among the study participants.Conclusion:Most of the participants visiting Suraksha clinic belonged to low socio-economic status and most were married but few had knowledge about STD's. Due to lack of facilities a syndromic approach was undertaken for treatment and the patients were provided with specific kits.