# HIV seropositivity, patterns, and clinico-epidemiological profile of sexually transmitted infection patients attending the Suraksha Clinic of a tertiary care public hospital in southern Rajasthan, India—a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study examines STI patients in southern Rajasthan, India, finding high HIV rates and risky sexual behaviors.

## Contribution

The study provides new data on HIV seropositivity and sexual risk behaviors among STI patients in southern Rajasthan.

## Key findings

- 7.7% of STI patients were HIV seropositive.
- The bridge population had a higher HIV seropositivity rate (17.2%) compared to others (4.2%).
- Only 28.3% of patients used condoms, and 52.7% had multiple sexual partners.

## Abstract

The current study aimed to determine the clinical-epidemiological profile, patterns, and HIV seropositivity among STI patients attending the Suraksha Clinic by the National AIDS Control Organization in southern Rajasthan, India. This cross-sectional study was performed among 300 STI patients via a questionnaire. The proportions of STI patients with various clinical-epidemiological backgrounds were expressed as frequencies and percentages. The associations between the sex distributions of the clinical parameters of STI patients were assessed via the chi-square test. Among the 300 STI patients, nearly three-fourths (74%) were males. Only 85 (28.3%) used condoms. Nearly half of them (51%) had their first sexual contact at approximately 15–19 years of age, and more than half (52.7%) had more than one sexual partner. The most common STIs were herpes genitalis (56.8%) in males and vaginal discharge (58.9%) in females. Overall, HIV seropositivity was observed in 7.7% (95% CI: 5.2–11.2%) of patients. HIV seropositivity was more common among the bridge population (17.2%) than among the other populations (4.2%). Only one out of four STI patients used condoms. One out of two had more than one sexual partner. Almost one in ten STI patients were HIV seropositive. The bridge population were more likely to be HIV seropositive than the other populations were.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-25015-2.