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Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Why has no reduction been noticed in the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in India, even though the STD Control Program has been in operation since 1949? What activities are provided under STD Control Programs?
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Precise data about the prevalence of STIs in India is not available. However, from the limited number of studies conducted among the ‘High Risk Population’ or ‘Hospital Based Studies’, prevalence rate of STIs in India has been quoted to be about 5 %.
NACO has planned to ascertain the prevalence of STIs and also health seeking behavior of persons suffering from this group of diseases, by undertaking a country-wide community based STI Prevalence Survey.
The STD Control Program is based on early diagnosis and prompt treatment of STIs and relies on the health seeking behavior of individuals with STD.
The health-seeking behavior of those suffering from STDs is directly related to the stigma attached to the disease, because of which individuals with STI desire anonymity. As a result, they seek alternate sources of medical aid including self-medication and only a small proportion report to public sector medical set-up.
Because of this attitude and the behaviour of those suffering from STIs, they continue to transmit infection to their multiple sex partners. This is the main obstacle in converting the infectious pool into non-infectious.
Under the STD Control Programme, the government has established STD clinics in each district hospital, all over the country. STI drugs are provided free of cost by the Government of India and adequate confidentiality is ensured for those attending these clinics.
Such clinics are managed by experts trained to treat STIs. Another major activity of STD Control Programme is Targeted Intervention under which, special facilities are made available easily to commercial sex workers, truckers, migrant workers and other marginalised segments of society.
Partner notification, condom promotion and imparting IEC activities through peer-educators are the interventions organised as a part of the programme.
STI management through syndromic approach has been now practiced by trained medical officers at the peripheral, middle and even at tertiary levels of healthcare where adequate lab facilities are not available.
What is FHAC?
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FHAC stands for Family Health Awareness Campaign. The campaign is carried out for a period of 15 days once a year. The objectives of the campaign are:
To raise the level of awareness on RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS in rural and slum areas, and other vulnerable groups of the population.
To encourage health seeking behavior in the general population for RTI and STI.
To make the people aware about the services available in the public health system for the management of RTI/STI.
To facilitate early detection and prompt treatment of RTI and STI by mainstreaming the program with the infrastructure available under the primary health care system.
To strengthen the capacity of medical & paramedical professionals working under health care system to respond to HIV/AIDS epidemic adequately.
Does the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) facilitate HIV transmission?
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Yes, every STD causes some damage to the genital skin and mucous layer, which facilitates the entry of HIV into the body. The most dangerous are:
Syphilis
Cancroids
Genital herpes
Gonorrhea
Why is early treatment of STD important?
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High rates of STD caused by unprotected sexual activity enhance the transmission risk in the general population. Early treatment of STD reduces the risk of spread to other sexual partners and also reduces the risk of contracting HIV from infected partners. Besides, early treatment of STD also prevents infertility and ectopic pregnancies.