Risk factors of reproductive tract infections among female sex workers in Medan, Indonesia

Aims: Female sex workers (FSWs) are a group at risk of experiencing reproductive tract infections (RTIs).Besides being contagious, RTIs are associated with various complications such as infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.This study aims to determine factors affecting RTIs incidence among FSWs in Medan.Methodology and results: This study was conducted at Padang Bulan Public Health Centre, which provided sexually transmitted infections (STIs) care.Sixty FSWs were tested for five genital infections: bacterial vaginosis (Amsel criteria), candidiasis (Gram staining), and syphilis (RPR test followed by TPHA test).Moreover, duplex PCR was used for the detection of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections simultaneously.Related factors included the participants' age, length of involvement in sex work, parity, symptoms, history of STIs, and condom usage by filled out in questionnaires.The majority of FSWs (56.7%) had gonorrhea.Condom use provided protection against chlamydia (OR = -2.709,p = 0.026), gonorrhea (OR = -2.628,p = 0.032), syphilis (OR = -1.237,p = 0.045), and bacterial vaginosis (OR = -0.957,p = 0.029).A history of previous STIs increases the risk of gonorrhea (OR = 2.451, p = 0.001), candidiasis (OR = 1.027, p = 0.033), and bacterial vaginosis (OR = 0.986, p = 0.011). Conclusion, significance and impact of study:The most common RTIs among the participants was gonorrhea.Condom use reduced the risk of RTIs.Education on safe sexual practices, including proper condom use, is required in high-risk populations to reduce future incidences of RTIs, particularly STIs, and their consequences.