Understanding Care‐Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study
ABSTRACT Background In Afghanistan, providing care for reproductive tract infections (RTIs) is challenging, among other factors, due to the extreme scarcity of reliable data. To address this gap, the present study investigates symptoms, potential risk factors, knowledge, and care‐seeking behavior in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Public Health Challenges |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70072 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849685446983942144 |
|---|---|
| author | Cecilia Acuti Martellucci Nooria Mohammady Fawzia Negin Sayed Hamid Mousavi Adriana Viola Miranda Husna Safa Bibi Qudsia Qasimi Khaterah Mosavi Basira Bek Alisina Azimi Zahra Annabi Saddiqa Noorzai Aabidullah Rahimee Taha Balaghat Fatema Rezaie Fardına Temory Mirwais Ramozi Mosè Martellucci Rahila Bek Shabanah Noorzai Madina Niro Husna Sultani Palwasha Farooqi Ehsan Shayan Mohammadgul Zhwand Qasem Rezaee Farzana Torgani Bibi Shakiba Hussaini Shaqaiq Akhtiyari Farah Qaderi Shohra Qaderi |
| author_facet | Cecilia Acuti Martellucci Nooria Mohammady Fawzia Negin Sayed Hamid Mousavi Adriana Viola Miranda Husna Safa Bibi Qudsia Qasimi Khaterah Mosavi Basira Bek Alisina Azimi Zahra Annabi Saddiqa Noorzai Aabidullah Rahimee Taha Balaghat Fatema Rezaie Fardına Temory Mirwais Ramozi Mosè Martellucci Rahila Bek Shabanah Noorzai Madina Niro Husna Sultani Palwasha Farooqi Ehsan Shayan Mohammadgul Zhwand Qasem Rezaee Farzana Torgani Bibi Shakiba Hussaini Shaqaiq Akhtiyari Farah Qaderi Shohra Qaderi |
| author_sort | Cecilia Acuti Martellucci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background In Afghanistan, providing care for reproductive tract infections (RTIs) is challenging, among other factors, due to the extreme scarcity of reliable data. To address this gap, the present study investigates symptoms, potential risk factors, knowledge, and care‐seeking behavior in the largest sample of women to date. Methods From September 16, 2022 to November 26, 2022, a structured questionnaire was administered to women presenting at multi‐specialist clinics in the major cities of Afghanistan. Signs and symptoms of RTIs were investigated, together with reproductive history, hygiene practices, and sociodemographic characteristics. Logistic regression, adjusted for selected covariates, was used to assess predictors of delays (over 1 month) from symptoms onset to care‐seeking, and of a history of RTI. Results A total of 601 responses were analyzed (80.2%). Mean age was 31.3 years (standard deviation [SD] 11.5). Signs symptoms related to RTIs were reported by 79.2%, knowledge of RTIs by only 23.0%, and care‐seeking delays by up to 39.5%. Care‐seeking delays were positively associated with abnormal vaginal discharge (odds ratios [OR] 4.12; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.01–8.45), lower abdominal pain (2.62; 1.44–4.77), and fever (1.93; 1.25–2.98) and negatively associated with being sedentary (0.38; 0.22–0.64), hand washing (0.61; 0.40–0.95), and knowledge about RTI, although borderline significant. A history of RTI (reported by 44.1%) was predicted by abnormal vaginal discharge, fever, irregular menstruations, and use of sanitary pads but not by the husbands’ history of RTI. Conclusions The majority of women presenting at clinics in Afghanistan reported symptoms related to RTIs, delayed care‐seeking, and lack of knowledge about RTI. Healthcare providers should inform the population about RTIs and their standard care pathway, while adopting a multi‐dimensional approach accounting for the cultural background of the women. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-89e7e1e37a6c409e8d8bcdab2bc5caf1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2769-2450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Challenges |
| spelling | doaj-art-89e7e1e37a6c409e8d8bcdab2bc5caf12025-08-20T03:23:07ZengWileyPublic Health Challenges2769-24502025-06-0142n/an/a10.1002/puh2.70072Understanding Care‐Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross‐Sectional StudyCecilia Acuti Martellucci0Nooria Mohammady1Fawzia Negin2Sayed Hamid Mousavi3Adriana Viola Miranda4Husna Safa5Bibi Qudsia Qasimi6Khaterah Mosavi7Basira Bek8Alisina Azimi9Zahra Annabi10Saddiqa Noorzai11Aabidullah Rahimee12Taha Balaghat13Fatema Rezaie14Fardına Temory15Mirwais Ramozi16Mosè Martellucci17Rahila Bek18Shabanah Noorzai19Madina Niro20Husna Sultani21Palwasha Farooqi22Ehsan Shayan23Mohammadgul Zhwand24Qasem Rezaee25Farzana Torgani26Bibi Shakiba Hussaini27Shaqaiq Akhtiyari28Farah Qaderi29Shohra Qaderi30Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences University of Ferrara Ferrara ItalyKabul University of Medical Sciences Kabul AfghanistanFaculty of Medicine Balkh University Balkh AfghanistanAfghanistan National Charity Organization for Special Diseases (ANCOSD) Kabul AfghanistanGlobal Health Focus Asia Bandung IndonesiaMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanJami University Herat AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanRabia Balkhi Medical Complex Hospital Ministry of Public Health Kabul AfghanistanRabia Balkhi Medical Complex Hospital Ministry of Public Health Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanRabia Balkhi Medical Complex Hospital Ministry of Public Health Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences University of Ferrara Ferrara ItalyMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanRabia Balkhi Medical Complex Hospital Ministry of Public Health Kabul AfghanistanKabul University of Medical Sciences Kabul AfghanistanKabul University of Medical Sciences Kabul AfghanistanKabul University of Medical Sciences Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanRabia Balkhi Medical Complex Hospital Ministry of Public Health Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanKabul University of Medical Sciences Kabul AfghanistanMedical Research Center Kateb University Kabul AfghanistanMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USAAfghanistan National Charity Organization for Special Diseases (ANCOSD) Kabul AfghanistanABSTRACT Background In Afghanistan, providing care for reproductive tract infections (RTIs) is challenging, among other factors, due to the extreme scarcity of reliable data. To address this gap, the present study investigates symptoms, potential risk factors, knowledge, and care‐seeking behavior in the largest sample of women to date. Methods From September 16, 2022 to November 26, 2022, a structured questionnaire was administered to women presenting at multi‐specialist clinics in the major cities of Afghanistan. Signs and symptoms of RTIs were investigated, together with reproductive history, hygiene practices, and sociodemographic characteristics. Logistic regression, adjusted for selected covariates, was used to assess predictors of delays (over 1 month) from symptoms onset to care‐seeking, and of a history of RTI. Results A total of 601 responses were analyzed (80.2%). Mean age was 31.3 years (standard deviation [SD] 11.5). Signs symptoms related to RTIs were reported by 79.2%, knowledge of RTIs by only 23.0%, and care‐seeking delays by up to 39.5%. Care‐seeking delays were positively associated with abnormal vaginal discharge (odds ratios [OR] 4.12; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.01–8.45), lower abdominal pain (2.62; 1.44–4.77), and fever (1.93; 1.25–2.98) and negatively associated with being sedentary (0.38; 0.22–0.64), hand washing (0.61; 0.40–0.95), and knowledge about RTI, although borderline significant. A history of RTI (reported by 44.1%) was predicted by abnormal vaginal discharge, fever, irregular menstruations, and use of sanitary pads but not by the husbands’ history of RTI. Conclusions The majority of women presenting at clinics in Afghanistan reported symptoms related to RTIs, delayed care‐seeking, and lack of knowledge about RTI. Healthcare providers should inform the population about RTIs and their standard care pathway, while adopting a multi‐dimensional approach accounting for the cultural background of the women.https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70072Afghanistanreproductive tract infectionswomen |
| spellingShingle | Cecilia Acuti Martellucci Nooria Mohammady Fawzia Negin Sayed Hamid Mousavi Adriana Viola Miranda Husna Safa Bibi Qudsia Qasimi Khaterah Mosavi Basira Bek Alisina Azimi Zahra Annabi Saddiqa Noorzai Aabidullah Rahimee Taha Balaghat Fatema Rezaie Fardına Temory Mirwais Ramozi Mosè Martellucci Rahila Bek Shabanah Noorzai Madina Niro Husna Sultani Palwasha Farooqi Ehsan Shayan Mohammadgul Zhwand Qasem Rezaee Farzana Torgani Bibi Shakiba Hussaini Shaqaiq Akhtiyari Farah Qaderi Shohra Qaderi Understanding Care‐Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study Public Health Challenges Afghanistan reproductive tract infections women |
| title | Understanding Care‐Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full | Understanding Care‐Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Understanding Care‐Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding Care‐Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_short | Understanding Care‐Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_sort | understanding care seeking behavior for reproductive tract infections among afghan women a cross sectional study |
| topic | Afghanistan reproductive tract infections women |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70072 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ceciliaacutimartellucci understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT nooriamohammady understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT fawzianegin understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT sayedhamidmousavi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT adrianaviolamiranda understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT husnasafa understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT bibiqudsiaqasimi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT khaterahmosavi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT basirabek understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT alisinaazimi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT zahraannabi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT saddiqanoorzai understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT aabidullahrahimee understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT tahabalaghat understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT fatemarezaie understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT fardınatemory understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT mirwaisramozi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT mosemartellucci understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT rahilabek understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT shabanahnoorzai understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT madinaniro understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT husnasultani understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT palwashafarooqi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT ehsanshayan understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT mohammadgulzhwand understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT qasemrezaee understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT farzanatorgani understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT bibishakibahussaini understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT shaqaiqakhtiyari understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT farahqaderi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy AT shohraqaderi understandingcareseekingbehaviorforreproductivetractinfectionsamongafghanwomenacrosssectionalstudy |