Syndromic approach for determination of reproductive tract infections among adolescent girls.
The present study shows overall prevalence (64%) of reproductive tract infection among adolescent girls, based on self-perceived symptoms. Mean age of respondents were found to be 17.8 +/- 0.82 years and mean age at marriage and mean age at first pregnancy were 17.2 years and 17.5 years respectively; 35.35% of girls in the present study were married. In addition, no significant difference was observed between unmarried (60.10%) and married (71.17%) reproductive tract infection groups. Moreover, no significant association was present in prevalence of reproductive tract infection between the Muslim (67%) and the Hindu (60%). Highest prevalence (84.06%) of reproductive tract infection was observed among illiterate girls and with improvement of educational status there was decrease in the prevalence and the association was found highly significant. Significantly, higher prevalence (72%) was observed among members of family size 7 and above.