Treatment seeking behaviour of STI clients in a tertiary care centre of North India: A cross sectional study

OBJECTIVE: (1) To determine the treatment seeking behaviour of STI clients. (2) To ascertain the relationship of socio-demographic factors and sexual behaviours with the treatment seeking component in STI clients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. After obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethical Committee, the data collected daily from master register, STI/RTI patient wise register and counsellor's patient diary during the study period August 2013 to July 2015 was processed by Microsoft Excel program. The counsellor also recorded the source of information regarding STI Clinic. The information collected regarding bio-social characteristics, high risk sexual behaviours and source of knowledge about Suraksha clinic was analysed. RESULTS: Our results showed that literacy, male sex, urban residence and employment were some of the parameters which significantly improved the health seeking behaviour of STI clients. These variables were associated with higher odds for seeking treatment when adjusted for other variables. Similarly group with bisexual and homosexual behaviour had significantly lower odds for seeking treatment when adjusted for other variables. CONCLUSION/KEY MESSAGE: The optimal use of information, education and communication (IEC) techniques needs to be strengthened to further improve the utilization of STI clinic services at tertiary care teaching hospitals.