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Additionally, STIs may also result in major extensive psychological consequences that profoundly affect individuals with STIs. Despite the government\u2019s implementation of different initiatives aimed at addressing STI-related challenges, these conditions are associated with shame and stigma which act as barriers to the effective utilisation of healthcare services. The purpose of the present study is to generate evidence on barriers and facilitators to service utilisation and management of STIs in India.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods and analysis<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, is conducting a multi-centre study employing a mixed-method approach. The study involves different levels of healthcare systems, including both government and private healthcare facilities across seven sites in several states of India, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi. For the quantitative data, individuals seeking healthcare services related to STIs will be enrolled and assessed using a semi-structured pilot-tested questionnaire. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions will also be conducted with different stakeholders as per the standard guidelines of the qualitative method by the designated trained project staff. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be applied to the quantitative data, while the qualitative data will be analysed using a deductive approach with thematic content analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Ethics and dissemination<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The study protocol has been approved by the ethics review committees of all the participating sites individually. The findings from this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated through scientific conferences and meetings among policy-makers and government agencies. AIIMS\/IEC\/2024\/609; AIIMS\/Pat\/IEC\/2024\/1205; F. 7\/BIOETHICS\/AIIMS-RBL\/APPROEM\/2021\/1; KIMSDU\/IEC\/11\/2022; LHMC\/IEC\/2024\/11; IEC\/02\/EX\/2024; PGI\/IEC\/2024EIC000373.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-109882","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,12]],"date-time":"2026-06-12T12:05:20Z","timestamp":1781265920000},"page":"e109882","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Barriers and facilitators to service utilisation and management of sexually transmitted infections in India: a multicentric mixed-method approach study protocol"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0652-1611","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sumit","family":"Aggarwal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jyoti","family":"Khandekar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated SSK & KSC Hospitals, New Delhi, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bratati","family":"Banerjee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pragati","family":"Agarwal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sourabh","family":"Paul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"AIIMS Raebareli, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mamta","family":"Parashar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated SSK & KSC Hospitals, New Delhi, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Akhil Dhanesh","family":"Goel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6921-9794","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"P V M","family":"Lakshmi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9222-8579","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kailash","family":"Datkhile","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed To Be University), Karad, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bijaya Nanda","family":"Naik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences - 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Profile of sexually transmitted infections among attendees of special clinics (Suraksha) at an apex regional sexually transmitted disease centre in North India \u2013 a five-year study. J Bras Doen\u00e7as Sex Transm 2024;36. doi:10.5327\/DST-2177-8264-2024361400","DOI":"10.5327\/DST-2177-8264-2024361400"},{"key":"2026061205051165000_16.6.e109882.18","unstructured":"Ministry of Health and Family Welfare . District level household survey-3, 2007-2008. International Institute for Population Sciences; 2007. Available: https:\/\/nhm.karnataka.gov.in\/storage\/pdf-files\/Demography\/DLHS-3-2007-2008-India.pdf"},{"key":"2026061205051165000_16.6.e109882.19","unstructured":"National aids control organization (NACO). n.d. 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