NURSES' EXPERIENCES ON AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF STD PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES OF BHILWARA, RAJASTHAN

Author Name: Dr. Naveen Pareek

Volume/Issue: 05/09

Country: India

DOI NO.: 11.2023-61555522 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/08.2025-22285396/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. Professor cum Vice Principal, Ramsnehi College of Nursing, Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to pose a major public health challenge in India, particularly in underserved and rural regions where access to health education and care is limited. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers in primary health centres (PHCs), play a pivotal role in the prevention, education, and management of STDs. This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of nurses involved in STD prevention, interpret their insights for program improvement, and assess the availability and utilization of STD preventive services within communities. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, the study included 160 nurses in the quantitative phase and 16 in-depth qualitative interviews. Cluster sampling was used to select PHCs, while convenience sampling identified nurse participants. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and experience rating scales, while qualitative insights were obtained through open-ended questions. Statistical analyses included chi-square, ANOVA, correlation, and regression tests. The results showed that 52.5% of nurses had moderate awareness of STD prevention strategies, 32.5% had inadequate awareness, and only 15% demonstrated adequate knowledge. Regarding professional experience, nearly half (49.4%) reported neutral experiences, with just 2.5% indicating highly positive involvement. A statistically significant association was observed between higher awareness and more positive experiences (p < 0.001), suggesting that knowledge directly impacts nurses’ effectiveness in the field. Qualitative analysis revealed critical gaps in knowledge about STDs beyond HIV/AIDS, limited training opportunities, and significant barriers to service utilization, including social stigma, patient reluctance, and community misconceptions. Despite the availability of preventive services at PHCs, utilization remained suboptimal. The study concludes that while nurses are essential to the success of STD prevention efforts, there is an urgent need to enhance their training, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, and promote community-level awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and improve uptake of services, ultimately strengthening public health outcomes.

Key words: Nurses, STD, Preventive Strategy, Awareness, Experience, Primary Health Centres, Bhilwara