Psychological health and well-being in patients with sexually transmitted infections: A prospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) suffer not only with the physical problems but also with various psychological problems. Majority of bacterial STIs are treatable in a short period, while viral STIs may persist for longer duration or have frequent recurrences.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was To study different aspects of psychological health and well-being in patients with STIs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study design was a prospective cross-sectional hospital-based study. Data were collected during July 2016-April 2018. STIs were divided into four groups (genital herpes, genital warts, and genital discharge and syphilis). One way analysis of variance and Scheffe Test were used for analysis of the data.

RESULTS

A total of 410 patients were included in the study. Majority of patients were suffering with genital herpes (139), followed by warts (104), discharge (92), and syphilis (75). Genital herpes and genital warts indicated significantly more cognitive affective (CA) depression as compared to the patients suffering with syphilis. Satisfaction with life was more with genital discharge and syphilis in comparison to the patients with genital warts and genital herpes. Genital herpes showed more perceived stress in comparison to genital discharge. Genital warts indicated more somatic depression as compared to syphilis and genital discharge patients while genital herpes showed more somatic depression than in patients suffering with genital discharge. Genital warts and genital herpes indicated significantly more overall depression as compared to the patients suffering with syphilis.

CONCLUSION

Overall depression was more in patients with genital herpes and warts. The findings provide empirical bases for extended studies on behavioral intervention programs.