Factors related to cervicitis in Qashghaee nomadic women of southern Iran.

In a survey of reproductive habits and cervical pathology in 1015 women of the Qashghaee nomadic tribe of southern Iran, a high prevalence (80%) of cervicitis was observed. The effects of reproductive and other habits on risk of cervicitis were therefore assessed using proportional odds modelling. Increased risks of a higher degree of cervicitis were associated with middle to late age (p = 0.02), a history of delivery of children (p = 0.001), intercourse during menses (p = 0.03) and a history of ever giving birth in a maternity hospital (p = 0.02). A lower risk was associated with increased duration of marriage (p = 0.05). The increased risk observed for history of birth in maternity hospital may reflect a prior obstetric problem which predisposes to both cervicitis and seeking the specialist obstetric care provided in the maternity hospital. Results suggest an infectious agent which may be transmitted in childbirth.