Background: Recalcitrant dermatophytosis has become a menace in recent times. The perception of the hosts or patients regarding the disease gives a real-life picture of the deep-rooted host-factors and the way to overcome the socio-economic and cultural milieu that becomes a hindrance in preventing the relapse and recurrence of this infection. Aims: This qualitative study was conducted to assess the perception regarding the patients’ understanding of causation and prevention of dermatophytosis, role of personal hygiene, and healthcare seeking behavior, and consequently, exploring the socio-economic and cultural milieu that contributes to the menace of recalcitrant dermatophytosis. Materials and Methods: Two focus group discussions (FGDs) consisting 12 patients with recalcitrant dermatophytosis, who speak the vernacular, were conducted with the help of a predetermined FGD-guide. Both FGD sessions were recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. These verbatims were thematically analyzed and emerging themes were identified with illustrative quotations. Free listing and pile sorted data obtained were analyzed by Visual Anthropac version 1.0 software for Smith's salience value, cognitive mapping with two-dimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results: Washing of clothes with soap antiseptics and drying the clothes under the sun prevents diseases, whereas, not changing undergarments for prolonged periods of time, bathing in ponds using mustard oil spreads the disease, furthermore, staying in wet clothes, working for more than five hours under sun, playing outdoors, household jobs cause tinea, etc. were the most common reported perceptions. Overall, five themes emerged after pile sorting the data, namely, ignorance about the disease, understanding of the predisposing factors of the disease, prevention, role of personal and traditional belief, and care-seeking behavior. Conclusions: There is a dire need to address the myths or traditional beliefs, which are not supported by scientific evidence. Expense of the treatment of dermatophytosis calls for price control of the commonly prescribed antifungals. Poor socio-economic conditions and professional responsibilities hinder people from implementing the preventive measures in spite of their knowledge.

Introduction: The dynamics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are influenced by sexual behaviour (age of first sexual exposure, number of sexual partner/s, sexual orientation, mode of intercourse, addiction, occupation, correct and consistent use of condom). The presence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) influences the clinical pattern of STIs and the course of disease too. Objective: Our study was conducted to find the prevalence of STIs among attendees of a designated STI/RTI clinic (DSRC) with the description of clinico-demographic profile and sexual behaviour and association of HIV seropositivity with STIs. Methods: Ours was an institution-based cross-sectional study conducted at DSRC after obtaining ethics committee approval and consent from patients. Clinical diagnosis, demographic profile and sexual history were obtained after maintaining audio-visual privacy. Statistical Analysis: Medcalc, version 10.2 was used. Results: Among 167 patients attending DSRC during the study period, 76 having sexual dysfunctions were excluded. The major STIs diagnosed were primary syphilis (6.59%), secondary syphilis (2.2%), herpes genitalis (42.86%), condyloma acuminata (26.37%), molluscum contagiosum (5.49%), genital candidiasis (7.69%), bowenoid papulosis (3.3%), genital scabies (4.4%) and chancroid (1.1%). Sexual orientations were heterosexual (64.83%), lesbian (1.1%), gay (12.1%), bisexual (17.58%) and with an animal partner (4.4%). Among the total study population, 8.8% was rapid plasma reagin (RPR) reactive and 12.1% was Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) reactive. Among the total patients who used condoms ( n = 49), only 15 (16.4% of total participants) used condoms correctly and consistently. Peno-vaginal mode of intercourse ( n = 78) was found to be most common followed by oro-insertive ( n = 42), oro-receptive ( n = 34), ano-insertive ( n = 24), ano-receptive ( n = 17) and digital insertion ( n = 20). Conclusion: Sexual behaviour influences the disease outcome in patients with reproductive tract infection (RTI)/STI.