Publication:

Awareness of RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS among women in Kerala: a district level analysis based on DLHS-4

Background Many of the reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted infections (RTI/STIs) are preventable and curable. Kerala is one of the highest literate states in India, but women in Kerala had very low knowledge in sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. The objective of the present study was to assess the level of awareness on RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS among women in Kerala with inter district variations on awareness among women in RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS. Another objective of the study was to find out the association between socio economic characteristics and awareness on RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS.

Methods Data for the present analysis comes from the district level household and facility survey-3 2007-08 (DLHS-3) and district level household and facility survey-4 (DLHS-4), 2015–16. DLHS is a nationally representative household survey, primarily conducted to monitor and evaluate the implementation of reproductive and child health program across the districts of India. To assess the level of awareness on RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS among women in Kerala with inter district variations on awareness among women in RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS data of DLHS-3 and DLHS-4 were used for analysis and to find out the association between socio economic characteristics and awareness on RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS, data of DLHS were used.

Results Only 48% of women in Kerala had heard of RTI/STI in Kerala, but 75.8% of the women had heard about HIV/AIDS. Knowledge on RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS among women in all the districts in Kerala had fallen from the DLHS-3 to DLHS-4.

Conclusions Decentralized field level interaction of health workers with IEC programs in both rural and urban areas regarding STIs/RTIs and HIV/AIDS should be strengthened along with effective mass media activities.