Abstract

A comparative study was conducted with the purpose to assess and compare the knowledge and expressed practices of married and unmarried women regarding RTIs, To assess and compare the symptoms of RTIs and to seek association of level of knowledge and expressed practices with their selected variables. Random sampling technique was used to select the houses and purposive sampling technique was used to select 100 married and 100 unmarried women from selected houses. Interview technique was used to collect data through structured knowledge questionnaire, expressed practice checklist and symptomatic screening checklist regarding RTIs. Findings revealed that unmarried women had good knowledge as compared to married women and married women had higher expressed practices than the unmarried women regarding prevention and management of RTIs. Personal hygiene practices were good among married women whereas in unmarried women, menstrual hygiene practices were good. Symptoms of RTIs were more among unmarried as compare to married women at the time of data collection. There was a significant association of level of knowledge score of married women with educational status and duration of marriage. The study concluded that none of the unmarried and married women had poor practices regarding prevention and management of RTIs.

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