{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T15:37:16Z","timestamp":1784302636353,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,26]],"date-time":"2026-05-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779753600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Reprod. Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), endogenous and iatrogenic infections, are a major health concern globally, particularly among young females in developing nations. If untreated, they can lead to infertility, increased HIV susceptibility, and cervical cancer. This study examines prevalence of self-reported RTI symptoms, reproductive health status, health literacy, and associated risk factors and perception towards emerging STI vaccines among females in an urban setting.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,935 urban females, predominantly aged 18\u201325 years, from non-medical colleges located in Delhi using a structured questionnaire. Data from 15 participants were excluded due to incomplete information. The remaining data (\n                      <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20091,920) was analyzed using SPSS 20 following Chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests, and Bonferroni corrections. Multinomial logistic regression (reference category: RTI-absent) identified risk factors for low- and high-risk RTIs. Additionally, a binary logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors of STI\/RTI vaccine acceptance.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Among total respondents, 1,241(64.6%) self-reported RTI symptoms, with 1,029 (83%) experiencing vaginal discharge and 974 (78.5%) vulval itching. Significant risk factors among high risk-RTIs, included, menstrual hygiene practices (OR\u2009=\u20093.183), awareness of contraceptive methods (OR\u2009=\u20091.919), family history of medical conditions (OR\u2009=\u20091.494) and prior RTI medication use (OR\u2009=\u20098.839). While, significant risk factors among low risk-RTIs, included, awareness of contraceptive methods (OR\u2009=\u20091.475), and prior RTI medication use (OR\u2009=\u200910.642). Approximately 8.2% and 25.9%, had been vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B, respectively, while 54.3% and 79.5% of respondents were aware of these vaccines, respectively. Additionally, 1032 (53.8%) were hesitant about emerging RTI vaccines, citing safety concerns (36%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u2009372) and cost (18.6%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u2009192). However, 42.9% (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u2009826) of participants reported that recommendations by healthcare providers positively influenced their willingness to receive vaccination.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The high prevalence of self-reported RTI symptoms highlights the urgent need for screening, healthcare services, literacy and awareness program to enhance RTI prevention and management.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/frph.2026.1812966","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,26]],"date-time":"2026-05-26T12:47:11Z","timestamp":1779799631000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Prevalence, risk factors, and perceptions of vaccination against reproductive tract infections among urban females in Delhi: a cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"8","author":[{"given":"Priya","family":"Bhardwaj","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sunita K.","family":"Yadav","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Reproductive Epidemiology and Infection Biology, Department of Zoology, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi","place":["Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joyeta","family":"Ghosh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dietetics and Applied Nutrition, Amity Institute of Applied Sciences (AIAS), Amity University - Kolkata Campus","place":["Kolkata, West Bengal, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ravi","family":"Kant","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Computational Drug & Vaccine Discovery Laboratory, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan","place":["Himachal Pradesh, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anita Garg","family":"Mangla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi","place":["Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sumathi","family":"Muralidhar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Apex Regional STD Centre, Safdarjung Hospital","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daman","family":"Saluja","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dr. B.R. 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