Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major concern and public health problem worldwide. Risk-factors of STIs are numerous, their determination is basic for STIs prevention and control.
Aims: To determine the commonest STIs and to define the socioeconomic, gynecological, reproductive, lifestyle, and behavioral risk-factors of the studied STIs female patients.
Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on one-hundred STIs married female patients attending the Obstetrics& Gynecology Clinics, Al-Azhar University Hospital, Assiut and one-hundred female as controls. A case-control study design was used. Vaginal, cervical, and urethral swabs and smears were taken from the cases and controls. Scrapes from suspicious lesions together with blood samples were taken for examinations.
Results: The commonest diagnosed STIs were candidiasis (38.0%) and scabies (21.0%). Significant risk-factors for acquiring STIs were the lowest positions of education, income and social-position (ORs=2.02, 2.42, 2.29; respectively). Urban- and shared-residence were significant risk-factors (ORs=4.0, 2.1; respectively). Significant gynecologic/reproductive risk-factors were married at age ≥28years and ≥14years between menses and marriage (ORs=2.15, 2.17; respectively). Pre-marital sexual activities, practicing with symptomatic partners, and had ≥2 life-time sexual partners were significant risk-factors (OR=6.89, 4.13, 4.75; respectively). Non-religiously committed, smoking, and substance-use/alcohol-intake were significant risk-factors (ORs=7.63, 14.1, 9.33; respectively). Not using protective measures, had previous STIs, partners with previous STIs, not advising partner to seek counseling, and counseling of non-healthcare were significant risk-factors (OR=3.73, 27.59, 11.16, 7.7, 24.41; respectively).
Conclusions: There are many preventable risk-factors for acquiring STIs; socioeconomic, demographic, gynecological, reproductive, sexual behavior, lifestyle, and healthcare behavior.