Perceptions and patterns of reproductive tract infections in a young ruralpopulation in North-West Namibia

Syndromic management of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is strongly pr omoted in Namibia. However, no data are available on rates of asymptomatic reproductive tract infections (RTIs) which would remain undetected and thus untreated in the general population. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of RTIs in a young rural population and to gain an insight into their health-care seeking behaviour for RTIs. A total of 97 patients (44 male, 53 female) <30 years of age attending the outpatient clinic of a rural hospital in Northern Namibia for problems unre lated to RTIs were interviewed and examined. Specimens were taken for inves tigation of RTIs according to a non-invasive diagnostic schedule. Laborator y examinations revealed 58 infections of the reproductive tract in 42 of th e 97 patients (43%). In addition, HIV infection was detected in 13 cases (1 3%). RTI rates were highest in female teenagers (68%), but no infections we re detected in their male counterparts. Of those 42 patients with a laboratory-diagnosed infection, 7 had both symp toms and signs (symptomatic), 16 had neither symptoms nor signs (asymptomat ic), and 19 had signs on examination but no symptoms (inapparent). Awarenes s and perception of symptoms and signs of RTIs were low in the studied popu lation. Provision of adequate treatment for RTIs alone is unlikely to have a major impact on the overall burden of disease since the largest burden of disease was found among those patients (predominantly females) with inappa rent infections. Health education on RTIs including STDs and the symptoms t hey cause together with the importance of early attendance at health facili ties and improved access to treatment need to be addressed urgently.