Table 1

Perceived causes of reproductive tract infections among informants reported in seven primarily qualitative studies
Causes of RTIs mentioned by study participants
 Pakistan
 Bangla-desh
 Vietnam
 Liberia
 South Africa
 Uganda
 Brazil




[6]
 [7]
 [8]
 [9]
 [10]
 [11]
 [12]
1. CONTAMINATION WITH GERMS OR UNCLEAN SUBSTANCES THROUGH VARIOUS ROUTES
1.1 Sexual contact with infected persons
No
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
1.2 Personal hygiene
 Hygiene before and after sexual contact
 No
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 No

Infrequent washing of genitals, unclean undergarments or towels
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes

Poor hygiene during or after menstruation
 No
 No
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
 No

Sharing toilets, dirty toilets
 No
 No
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 Yes
1.3 Exposure to contaminated physical environment
 Exposure to contaminated water
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
 No

Exposure to contaminated soil, dirt or dust carried by air
 Yes
 No
 No
 Yes
 No
 No
 No

Stepping in infected urine
 No
 No
 No
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
1.4 Pubic lice, other biting insects
 No
 No
 No
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 No
1.5 Surgical procedures: IUD insertion, tubal ligation, induced abortions
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
 No
1.6 Intravenous drug use
 No
 No
 No
 No
 No
 No
 Yes
2. INTERNAL IMBALANCE
2.1 Diet, dietary imbalance
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
2.2 Weakness or excessive demands on body
 Hard work
 No
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
 Yes
 No

Weakness
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
 No
 No
 No

Pregnancy and childbirth
 Yes
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
 No
 No
3. ACTION OF EXTERNAL AGENTS
3.1 Malevolent spirits
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
3.2 Will of God, Nature's will
 Yes
 Yes
 No
 No
 No
 No
 No
3.3 Witchcraft and sorcery
 No
 No
 No
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 No

Hernández et al. BMC Women's Health 2006 6:7   doi:10.1186/1472-6874-6-7