Experts have attributed the rising cases of urinary tract infection in Indian women to lack of awareness and social stigma.  

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a painful condition that affects millions of people, especially women. UTI occurs when bacteria enter the urinary system and cause inflammation and irritation. 

About 40% of women and 12% of men experience at least one symptom of UTI during their lifetime while as many as 40% of affected women suffer with recurrent UTI. It is also known to be one of the most common medical complications during pregnancies. 

According to a recent research, published in SSRG International Journal of Medical Sciences, around 35% women in India get affected by female urinary incontinence. 

Led by Anya Chaudhary, lead author and a social awareness campaigner on UTI in women, the research highlighted the trends of awareness and stigma surrounding female urinary incontinence, and effective methods to improve societal perception of women’s health issues. 

“In India women are hesitant to seek well available treatment for UTI which hampers their daily life, their social capacity, and their confidence and this hesitance is caused by lack of awareness and stigma,” Chaudhury told the news agency. 

Other experts also called the need for raising awareness on UTI. 

“UTI or urinary tract infection is quite common in women. This problem is seen more in postmenopausal women and those with diabetes. To avoid getting UTI, it is advisable to drink at least two litres of water daily, keep sugars well controlled, and maintain good personal hygiene,” Dr Anita Gupta, associate director, obstetrics and gynaecology,at a hospital in Delhi, said. 

“In case of symptoms like burning and pain while urinating along with fever, seeking expert advice and apt antimicrobial choice is imperative for both clinical efficacy and avoiding development of resistance. Considering female population, genital and menstrual hygiene also contribute to recurrence of urine infection,” added Dr Neha Rastogi Panda, senior infectious diseases specialist at a research institute, Gurugram.

(Source: IANS)

- Edited for style

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