# Morbidity Profile of Patients With Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Their Determinants in a Tertiary Care Institute of Eastern India

## TL;DR

This study examines the types and causes of sexually transmitted infections in a hospital in India, finding that women are more likely to have bacterial STIs and tend to start sexual activity at a younger age.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific predictors of bacterial, viral, and fungal STIs in a tertiary care setting in India, highlighting gender and behavioral factors.

## Key findings

- Female gender was a predictor of bacterial STIs, while knowledge about STIs was protective.
- Viral STIs were less common in females and associated with later sexual debut.
- Older age and condom use were protective against fungal STIs.

## Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have a tremendous health burden in India, owing to its younger population. The current study was conducted to study the pattern of different STIs and their determinants among cases presenting to a tertiary hospital STI clinic.

Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 340 new cases of STIs attending the STI clinic during one year were enrolled. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to record the socio-demographic profile, sexual history, knowledge of STIs, and safe sex measures. A dermatologist performed the clinical examination, including a general and systemic examination.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 27.10 years (± 6.03) with a range from 17 to 45 years. The mean age at the first sexual encounter was significantly lower in females as compared to males (18.5 years versus 21.2 years, t=13.85, p=0.000). The most common morbidity among females was bacterial vaginosis (BV) (72, 43.4%), and the common STIs were herpes genitalis (52, 15.3%), Candida infection (49, 14.4%), non-gonococcal urethritis/cervicitis (43, 12.6%), trichomoniasis (42, 12.4%), genital warts (31, 9.1%), gonorrhea (22, 6.5%), and syphilis (19, 5.6%). Using binary logistic regression, the predictor of bacterial STI was female gender (odds ratio (OR): 2.033, 95% CI: 1.288-3.208), and knowledge about STI was protective (OR: .640, 95% CI: 0.403-1.014). On the contrary, for viral STIs (including HIV), female gender (OR: .120, 95% CI: .060-.241) and late age of sexual debut (OR: 0.891, 95% CI: .779-1.019) were protective. The predictors of fungal STIs were older age (OR: 1.077, 95% CI: 1.027-1.130), and correct and consistent use of condoms was a protective factor (OR: .279, 95% CI: 0.083-0.943).

Conclusion: The study concluded that female participants had significantly younger ages of sexual debut, and they also had higher chances of bacterial STIs. Genital syphilis and herpes were the most common ulcerative STIs, whereas BV and trichomoniasis were the most common causes of genital discharge.