STI Clinic/RTI

Sexually transmitted infections and Reproductive tract infections (STI/RTI) are an important public health problem in India. A countrywide Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS) indicates that 12% of female clients and 6% of male clients attend the PHC OPD for complaints related to STI/RTI. The 2002 ICMR multi centre community prevalence study of STI/RTI has shown that 5% to 6% of sexually active adult population are suffering from STI/RTI. Individuals with STI/RTI have a significantly higher chance of acquiring and transmitting HIV.

Moreover, STI/RTI are also known to cause infertility and reproductive morbidity. Controlling STI/RTI helps decrease HIV infection rates and provides a window of opportunity for counseling about HIV prevention and reproductive health. Provision of STI/RTI care services is a very important strategy to prevent HIV transmission and promote sexual and reproductive health under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and Reproductive and Child Health programme (RCH) of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

Syndromic case management (SCM)is a comprehensive approach for STI/RTI control endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). This approach classifies STI/RTI into syndromes (easily identifiable group of symptoms and signs) and provides treatment for the most common organisms causing the syndrome.Other important components of STI/RTI management include treatment compliance and followup, counseling, partner treatment and condom promotion. Implementation of a standardized SCM simplifies training and supervision, reporting and drug management.