Stalled progress in reducing reproductive tract infections and uneven treatment seeking among women in India 2005–2021
1
Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Reproductive tract infections remain a major source of reproductive morbidity among women in India, yet evidence on long-term trends in prevalence and treatment seeking remains limited. Understanding whether progress has occurred over time is critical for strengthening reproductive health policy. This study examines trends in self-reported reproductive tract infection symptoms and associated care-seeking behaviour among women aged 15–49 years between 2005 and 2021.
METHODS:
Data were drawn from three rounds of the National Family Health Survey, including 2005–06, 2015–16 and 2019–21. The analysis used a pooled sample of 263909 women who reported symptoms of reproductive tract infections. Descriptive analyses assessed national and state-level trends in symptom prevalence and treatment seeking. Multivariable logistic regression examined temporal changes and identified socioeconomic and regional correlates of reproductive tract infection reporting and care seeking.
RESULTS:
National reproductive tract infection prevalence remained largely unchanged at approximately 11% in 2005–06 and 2015–16, with a modest increase to 12.3% in 2019–21, masking substantial state-level heterogeneity. Several high-burden states recorded declines, while multiple low- and medium-burden states experienced marked increases. Only about 40% of women reporting symptoms sought any treatment. Public-sector treatment increased from 11.5% to 19.0% over time, while private-sector use declined from 29.2% to 25.3%. Multivariable analyses indicated increasing odds of symptom reporting and public-sector treatment seeking over time, alongside persistent socioeconomic and regional inequalities.
CONCLUSIONS:
The burden of reproductive tract infections among Indian women has remained largely stagnant over more than fifteen years, alongside persistently low and uneven treatment seeking. These findings highlight stalled progress in reducing reproductive tract infections and underscore the need for context-specific and equitable reproductive health strategies that expand access to timely and appropriate care.
Reproductive tract infections remain a major source of reproductive morbidity among women in India, yet evidence on long-term trends in prevalence and treatment seeking remains limited. Understanding whether progress has occurred over time is critical for strengthening reproductive health policy. This study examines trends in self-reported reproductive tract infection symptoms and associated care-seeking behaviour among women aged 15–49 years between 2005 and 2021.
METHODS:
Data were drawn from three rounds of the National Family Health Survey, including 2005–06, 2015–16 and 2019–21. The analysis used a pooled sample of 263909 women who reported symptoms of reproductive tract infections. Descriptive analyses assessed national and state-level trends in symptom prevalence and treatment seeking. Multivariable logistic regression examined temporal changes and identified socioeconomic and regional correlates of reproductive tract infection reporting and care seeking.
RESULTS:
National reproductive tract infection prevalence remained largely unchanged at approximately 11% in 2005–06 and 2015–16, with a modest increase to 12.3% in 2019–21, masking substantial state-level heterogeneity. Several high-burden states recorded declines, while multiple low- and medium-burden states experienced marked increases. Only about 40% of women reporting symptoms sought any treatment. Public-sector treatment increased from 11.5% to 19.0% over time, while private-sector use declined from 29.2% to 25.3%. Multivariable analyses indicated increasing odds of symptom reporting and public-sector treatment seeking over time, alongside persistent socioeconomic and regional inequalities.
CONCLUSIONS:
The burden of reproductive tract infections among Indian women has remained largely stagnant over more than fifteen years, alongside persistently low and uneven treatment seeking. These findings highlight stalled progress in reducing reproductive tract infections and underscore the need for context-specific and equitable reproductive health strategies that expand access to timely and appropriate care.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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