Study on Relationship between Reproductive Tract Infections and Personal Hygiene Behaviors among Vulnerable Married Women in Shanghai

Objective:To understand the influence of personal hygiene behaviors on reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and to provide evidence for the intervention among married women at childbearing age Methods:A total of 1 631 married women in 60 residence neighborhoods from 4 streets and 2 stagnant enterprises were selected by multistage cluster random sampling and interviewed face-to-face through questionnaires, laboratory tests assay and gynecological examination. All data were analyzed by SAS 8.2. Results:The positive detection rates of five target pathogens, trichomonas vaginalis, candida albicans, G.vaginalis, chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, in the study were 3.04%, 5.04%, 1.52%, 6.68%, and 0.12%, respectively. Personal hygiene practices and sexual behaviors among married women in the study were good in general. The vast majority of women (98.77%) rinsed their vulvae every day and more than half of the women (53.03%) took bath every day. In terms of the prevalence of endogenous infection, there were statistical differences between women who had different frequencies of rinsing their vulvae and taking bath; and for the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection, there were significant differences between women whose husband had different frequency of washing their external genital organs before sexual intercourses each time. The mostly adopted contraceptive methods among women ranked by frequency were intra-uterine devices (IUD) (68.69%), male condom (16.69%) and safe period (6.20%), among which male condom could prevent sexually transmitted infections. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the frequency of taking bath, the husband washing his external genital organ before sexual intercourse and the age of marriage were the influencing factors of RTIs, too. Conclusion:It is very urgent that health educational intervention of RTIs among married women be conducted and especially the knowledge on condom's double effects on contraception and prevention of RTIs be disseminated to urge women to practice hygiene behavior to achieve the aim of preventing RTIs.

Impact of organophosphorous pesticide exposure on semen quality of Chinese peasants

Aim: To investigate the impact of organophosphorous pesticide exposure and other risk factors on the semen quality of Chinese peasants. Method: Questionnaire investigation, external genital examination and laboratory examination were conducted on 322 male peasants, including the exposed and the control groups of 161 subjects each. Results: Multivariate analysis showed that the educational level and the years of alcohol drinking influenced the semen volume. Compared with subjects of primary school education or lower, those with junior high school education had a higher semen volume (OR=1.961). Proportion of subjects with higher semen volume decreased with increased years of alcohol drinking (OR=0.962). Organophosphorous pesticide exposure decreased the number of forward progression sperm (OR=0.528), the sperm density (OR=0.266), the sperm viability (OR=0.398) and the percentage of normal morphology sperm (OR=0.281). A possible relationship was present between the season of semen collection and the number of forward progression sperm, sperm viability and percentage of normal morphology sperm. Compared with the summer data, the above three indices were higher in winter (OR being 2. 272, 4.060 and 5.249, respectively). Conclusion: Exposure to organophosphorous pesticide could damage the semen quality of the peasants. Education and alcohol drinking also affect the semen quality.

Impact of Organophosphorous Pesticide Exposure on Semen Quality

Objective To investigate the impact of organophorous pesticide exposure on semen quality and other risk factors of semen quality Method Questionnaire investigation, external genital examination and laboratory examination of semen quality were conducted on 322 subjects, who were divided into exposed and control group, each consisting of 161 subjects. Results Multivariate analysis showed that educational level and years of alcohol drinking had effect on semen volume. Compared with subjects with primary school education or lower, those with junior high school education had higher value of semen volume(OR=1.961). Proportion of subjects with high semen volume decreased with the increasing years of alcohol drinking (OR=0.962). Organophosphorous pesticide exposure could result in the decline of the number of sperms with progressive forward progression (OR=0.528), figure of semen density (OR=0.266), semen viability (OR=0.398) and percentage of normal sperm morphology (OR=0.281). There are possible relationships between the season of semen collection and the number of sperms with progressive forward progression, semen viability and percentage of normal sperm morphology . Compared to summer, values of the above three indices would be higher in winter (OR was 2.272, 4.060 and 5.249, respectively). Conclusion Exposure to organophosphorous pesticide could result in the deterioration of semen quality of the peasants.