Environmental Extremes and Sexual Health: A Study of Floods and STIs in India

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one million new STI cases occur daily worldwide. Previous studies have shown that exposure to extreme environmental conditions is positively associated with STI prevalence, but the specific effect of floods remains underexplored. Aim: This study aims to examine the association between flood exposure and STI prevalence among men. Data and Methods: This study utilized the men recode dataset from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and district-level flood data from the annual report of the Central Water Commission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests to assess STI prevalence across covariates, and binary logistic regression to estimate the risk of STIs associated with flood exposure. Results: Findings indicate that men exposed to floods have a 15% higher risk of acquiring STIs (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04–1.27). Risky sexual behaviours such as having more than one intimate partner (AOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.47–2.06) and engagement in paid sex (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 2.24–2.92) further increase STI risk. A higher prevalence of STIs was observed among unmarried men aged 15–24 years exposed to floods (13.94%, p < 0.001; 13.6%, p < 0.001, respectively) as compared to their counterparts. Population attributable fraction analysis suggests that over 1.7 million STI cases could be prevented with effective mitigation measures. Conclusion: Flood exposure increases the risk of STIs by disrupting daily activities and healthcare services. Timely implementation of appropriate mitigation strategies during and immediately after floods is essential to reduce the STI prevalence. Extreme weather event EWE Climate change Sexually transmitted diseases STD Figures Figure 1 Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant concern for sexual wellbeing and a global public health problem (Elendu et al., 2024 ). A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that almost 1 million cases of STIs are acquired daily in the age group of 15–49 years. Most of these STIs are caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, which are curable but asymptomatic (WHO, 2025). These STIs are communicable and can spread through sexual contact, leading to an increased risk of HIV acquisition, pelvic inflammatory disease, and cancer in women (Van Gerwen et al., 2022 ). Men can also suffer from mild problems, such as pain or early discharge, to severe problems, such as infertility (Henkel, 2021 ). A child can be infected with STIs during pregnancy, which can result in stillbirth, neonatal death, low birth weight, and prematurity. Although cases of STIs are disproportionately distributed across the globe, countries from the lower-middle-income groups are bearing this burden. A higher prevalence of STIs is found in Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America because of a lack of awareness, lower socioeconomic development, and limited healthcare accessibility (Fu et al., 2022 ). This additional burden not only affects individuals by increasing their out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare (Suvirya et al., 2024 ) but also creates stress on the existing healthcare facilities of the country(Chesson et al., 2017 ). On the other hand, changing environmental conditions, such as increasing temperature and changing frequency and intensity of floods and hurricanes, are negatively hampering health and healthcare infrastructure (Abrahamson & Raine, 2009 ; Guihenneuc et al., 2023 ). Recent changes in the frequency, intensity, and severity of environmental extremes threaten society, including health, through several pathways. The shifting spatiotemporal distribution of temperature and rainfall is causing outbreaks of new diseases in new spaces (Chowdhury & Rahman, 2024 ). Intense rainfall has become more frequent and is disrupting the socioeconomic setup with adverse health outcomes. It also leads to flooding, which causes life and economic losses. Displacement caused by flooding results in the deterioration of an individual's health due to reduced healthcare accessibility (Rentschler et al., 2022 ; Yang et al., 2025 ). Increased participation in transactional sex for food and shelter to cope with adverse conditions increases the risk of sexual and reproductive health diseases (Luetke et al., 2020 ). Unhygienic living spaces and multiple contacts in temporary shelters also increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), while reduced access to contraceptives, such as condoms, can further deteriorate sexual and reproductive health outcomes (Abels & Blignaut, 2011 ). Similarly, long-term migration caused by flooding in search of food and livelihood also increases the risk of STDs by increasing participation in paid sex (Luetke et al., 2020 ). Subsequently, this increased burden of STDs hampers the individual’s development by putting an additional burden on their out-of-pocket health expenditure and hinders the country’s effort to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 (health and wellbeing). The association between environmental extremes and STDs has been extensively explored worldwide. A longitudinal study conducted by Nsuami, among schoolchildren in the USA, revealed that students whose neighbours were affected by the hurricane were at a higher risk of STIs such as gonorrhea (Nsuami et al., 2009 ). Similarly, a global-level study conducted in more than 100 countries revealed that exposure to natural hazards was positively associated with the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Dambre et al., 2022 ). A study from sub-Saharan Africa using cross-sectional survey data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) revealed that exposure to heavy rainfall was positively associated with HIV and STI incidence. Exposure to heavy rainfall was positively associated with deteriorating condition of food security and increased inability to negotiate for safe sex. The results suggest that respondents exposed to heavy rainfall had 1.14 times the odds of HIV incidence and 1.11 times the odds of STI incidence (Nagata et al., 2022 ). A similar study was conducted in India among female sex workers to test the association between STI incidence and temperature. The results of this study suggest that higher temperatures are positively associated with an increased risk of STIs among female sex workers (Suresh, 2021 ). Previous studies have explored the association between different environmental factors and STIs; however, no study has yet explored the association between STIs and floods. Therefore, the present study aimed to address this gap and explore the association between STIs and floods. The study also explored how different risky sexual behaviours shape the STI prevalence in the study area. To fulfil this objective, men's record data from the NFHS-5 were utilized. The reason for using men's data for the study is that, in the situation of flooding, men serve as intermediaries between families and society in the Indian context. This increases the risk of adverse health outcomes, such as physical injury, physiological health, sexual and reproductive health, and sometimes loss of life. Data and method Data source The present study utilized the men's record dataset from the latest round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), which was conducted during 2019–2021. The NFHS data are a nationally representative, large-scale survey data representing all states and union territories at the district level. The survey adopts a multistage, stratified, and probability sampling design for the selection of the samples. This survey contains 7,24,115 samples of women aged 15–49 years, 6,36,699 household samples, and 1,01,839 men samples aged 15–54 years. The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) plays a leading role in conducting the NFHS survey under the supervision and guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. This survey covers a wide range of population and health indicators, such as maternal and child health, fertility and mortality, communicable and non-communicable diseases, child anthropometric measures, WASH practices, healthcare utilization, and biomarker data at the district and state levels. Figure 1: To be placed here Study design To evaluate the association between STI prevalence and floods, this study adopted a cross-sectional design using data from men's recode (101,839 samples) of the fifth round of the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-5). The study focused on men aged between 15 and 49 years (93,267 samples), while men who reported that they had never engaged in any kind of sexual activity (30,619 samples) or did not know about STIs (15 samples) were excluded from this study. The remaining 62,633 (unweighted) male samples were used to explore the association between STI prevalence and floods (Fig. 1). Outcome variable The outcome variable for the present study was men reporting any kind of STI. Three different questions regarding STI prevalence (“had any STI in last 12 months,” “had genital sore/ulcer in last 12 months,” and “had genital discharge in last 12 months”) were asked during the NFHS-5 survey. The responses to these questions were recorded as ‘yes’, ‘no’, and ‘don’t know’. An aggregate index of responses from these three questions was prepared in binary format, where respondents reporting yes for any one of them were categorized as 1, which means ‘men suffering from any kind of STI’, while other responses were recoded as 0, which means ‘not suffering from STI’. Explanatory variables In this study, flood- and non-flood-affected areas were used as key predictors. Data on floods at the district level were acquired from the annual report of the Central Water Commission (CWC), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India (GoI) for 2018, 2019, and 2020. Districts experiencing severe and extreme flooding at least once during 2018–2020 were considered flood-affected areas. While recording the data, districts affected by floods at least once during 2018–2020 were coded as 1, districts affected for two or more years were coded as 2, and the remaining non-flood-affected districts were coded as 0. The study also includes several other socioeconomic covariates such as age (15–24, 25–29, 30–39, 40–49 years), place of residence (rural and urban), years of education (no education, < 5, 5–7, 8–9, 10–11, 12 or more years), marital status (never married, currently married, and widowed/divorced/separated), caste (scheduled caste/scheduled tribe, OBC, and others), religion (Hindu, Muslim, Others), wealth quantile (poorest, poor, middle, richer, and richest), occupation (not working, formal, sales, domestic workers, agricultural worker, skilled/unskilled, and others), and staying away from home for more than one month during the last 12 months (yes and no), along with other possible explanatory variables related to risky sexual behaviours. The variables related to risky sexual behaviours were having multiple intimate partners (one intimate partner, more than one intimate partner), ever engaging in paid sex (yes, no), and having information about the source of the condom (yes, no). Statistical analyses Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the background characteristics of the sampled population across various socioeconomic predictors. Bivariate percentage distribution was used to estimate the prevalence of STIs among men based on different socioeconomic and other contextual predictors. Pearson’s chi-square statistic was later tested among predictors with a significance level of 0.05. This study also applied multivariate logistic regression models to examine the association between flood exposure and STI prevalence. The results of the logistic regression model are presented as both unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The state men’s weight is applied to the district level estimates, and the national weight is applied for all India estimates. Furthermore, this study estimated the population attribution fraction (PAF) method to quantify the disease burden attributed to a particular risk factor. It generally refers to the fraction of the disease burden that can be eliminated if mitigation measures are taken against that particular risk factor (Askari & Namayandeh, 2020 ; Lin & Chen, 2019 ). $$\:\text{PAF}=\frac{{P}_{e}\times\:\left(OR-1\right)}{{P}_{e}\times\:\left(OR-1\right)+1}$$ Where, P e ​ = refers to the prevalence of exposure to the risk factor. OR = represents the odds ratio, typically adjusted for relevant confounders. Results The study utilized a 61,963 sample (weighted) of men aged between 15 to 49 years for the analysis, from which 9.3% of the men reported any kind of STIs. 65.8% men suffering from any kind of STIs belong to the non-flood affected region, while 34.2% men suffering from STIs belong to flood flood-affected region. Table 1 presents a summary of the background of the sample of the study (Table 1 ). Table 1 Background characteristics of the sampled men aged 15–49 years reporting STIs, NFHS-5 (2019-21) Variables Non-Flood Affected Flood Affected Total Age (Years) (Weighted n, %) (Weighted n, %) (Weighted n, %) 15–24 664 (17.4) 272 (13.7) 935 (16.2) 25–29 669 (17.6) 318 (16.1) 987 (17.1) 30–39 1,423 (37.4) 719 (36.4) 2,142 (37.0) 40–49 1,052 (27.6) 668 (33.8) 1,720 (29.7) Resident Urban 1,112 (29.2) 551 (27.9) 1,662 (28.7) Rural 2,697 (70.8) 1,425 (72.1) 4,122 (71.3) Marital Status Never Married 513 (13.5) 223 (11.3) 735 (12.7) Currently Married 3,226 (84.7) 1,701 (86.1) 4,927 (85.2) Widowed/Divorced/Separated 70 (1.8) 52 (2.7) 123 (2.1) Year of Education No Schooling 491 (12.9) 347 (17.6) 839 (14.5) < 5 409 (10.7) 185 (9.4) 594 (10.3) 5–7 644 (16.9) 360 (18.2) 1,003 (17.4) 8–9 720 (18.9) 345 (17.4) 1,064 (18.4) 10–11 574 (15.1) 272 (13.8) 845 (14.6) 12 or more 971 (25.5) 468 (23.7) 1,439 (24.9) Social Group SC/ST 1,175 (30.9) 703 (35.6) 1,878 (32.5) OBC 1,504 (39.5) 743 (37.6) 2,246 (38.8) Others 1,130 (29.7) 531 (26.9) 1,661 (28.7) Religion Hindu 2,846 (74.8) 1,573 (79.6) 4,420 (76.4) Muslim 813 (21.4) 367 (18.6) 1,180 (20.4) Others 149 (3.9) 36 (1.8) 185 (3.2) Wealth Quintile Poorest 820 (21.5) 526 (26.6) 1,347 (23.3) Poorer 840 (22.1) 437 (22.1) 1,277 (22.1) Middle 827 (21.7) 433 (21.9) 1,260 (21.8) Richer 742 (19.5) 327 (16.6) 1,069 (18.5) Richest 580 (15.2) 253 (12.8) 832 (14.4) Occupation Not Working 167 (4.4) 96 (4.9) 264 (4.6) Formal 251 (6.6) 169 (8.5) 420 (7.3) Sales 314 (8.2) 186 (9.4) 500 (8.6) Domestic Work 345 (9.1) 171 (8.6) 516 (8.9) Agricultural 1,329 (34.9) 685 (34.7) 2,014 (34.8) Skilled/Unskilled 1,159 (30.4) 578 (29.3) 1,737 (30.0) Others 243 (6.4) 92 (4.6) 335 (5.8) Away from Home ≥ 1 Month Yes 845 (22.2) 434 (22.0) 1,279 (22.1) No 2,963 (77.8) 1,542 (78.0) 4,505 (77.9) Number of IP 1 One IP 3,618 (95.0) 1,927 (97.5) 5,540 (95.8) > 1 IP 191 (5.0) 49 (2.5) 243 (4.2) Ever Engaged in Paid Sex Yes 381 (10.0) 156 (7.9) 538 (9.3) No 3,428 (90.0) 1,820 (92.1) 5,246 (90.7) Knows Condom Source Yes 2,703 (71.0) 1,439 (72.8) 4,141 (71.6) Don’t Know 1,106 (29.0) 537 (27.2) 1,643 (28.4) Total 3,809 (100.0) 1,976 (100.0) 5,784 (100.0) Total 3809 (100) 1976(100) 5784(100) Column wise sample distribution: 100% (Source: NFHS-5), 1-IP: Intimate partner Table 1 : To be placed here Figure 2 : To be placed here Prevalence of STIs among men by background characteristics A higher prevalence of STI (12.26%) has been found in the 15–24 years age group among the men residing in urban areas (9.1%) as compared to their counterparts (Table 2 ). Additionally, men with no educational background (9.8%) who were never married (12.5%) showed a higher prevalence of STIs than higher educational backgrounds and married men, respectively. Similarly, higher prevalence of STIs has been found among men from OBC (9.4%) and the Muslim religion (12.3%) as compared to Others and the Hindu community, respectively. The study findings also highlight that the prevalence of the STI decreases with the improvement of wealth status. Men who do not belong to any occupational group (9.8%) showed higher STI prevalence compared to the other occupational groups. Similarly, men staying outside the home for more than one month during the past 12 months (13.25%) reported a higher prevalence of STIs than those who were staying at home. Men's engagement in risky sexual behaviour is significantly associated with a higher prevalence of STIs. Further, men having more than one intimate partner (19.82%) reported higher STI prevalence compared to those who have only one intimate partner. Men who were ever engaged in paid sex (24.8%) reported higher STI prevalence than those who never engaged in paid sex. Additionally, men having no information about the source of the condom (10.6%) have also reported higher STI prevalence compared to their counterparts who have information about the source of the condom. Table 2 Prevalence of STIs among men by background characteristics of respondents, NFHS-5 (2019-21) Non-flood affected Flood affected Total Variables Prevalence rate p-value Prevalence rate p-value prevalence rate p-value Age (Years) 15–24 11.9 13.6 12.2 25–29 9.3 < 0.001 10.5 < 0.001 9.6 < 0.001 30–39 8.2 9.4 8.5 40–49 7.6 9.2 8.0 Resident Urban 7.8 < 0.001 11.1 < 0.05 8.5 < 0.05 Rural 8.9 9.6 9.1 Marital status Never married 12.2 13.9 12.5 Currently married 8.2 < 0.001 9.4 < 0.001 8.5 < 0.001 Widowed/divorced/separated 10.0 13.8 10.9 Year of education no schooling 9.8 11.2 9.8 < 5 8.9 9.3 9.0 5–7 8.9 < 0.01 10.4 0.1 9.2 < 0.001 8–9 8.4 9.2 8.6 10–11 9.3 10.5 9.6 12 or more 8.0 9.3 8.3 Social group SC/ST 8.3 10.8 8.7 OBC 9.3 9.6 9.4 Others 8.3 < 0.001 9.3 < 0.05 8.5 < 0.01 Religion Hindu 8.6 9.8 8.9 Muslim 12.6 < 0.001 11.6 < 0.001 12.3 < 0.001 Others 6.0 5.6 5.9 Wealth quantile poorest 9.4 11.0 9.8 poorer 9.2 8.7 9.1 middle 8.9 < 0.001 10.1 < 0.05 9.2 < 0.001 richer 8.2 9.9 8.6 richest 7.3 10.0 7.8 Occupation Not working 9.4 11.6 9.8 Formal 7.4 10.5 8.1 Sales 7.6 8.6 7.9 Domestic workers 8.6 11.1 9.2 Agricultural 8.8 < 0.01 10.1 0.1 9.1 < 0.01 Skilled/unskilled 8.9 9.7 9.1 Others 9.1 7.5 8.8 Away from home for 1 or more month in last 12 months Yes 12.8 < 0.001 14.7 < 0.001 13.2 < 0.001 No 7.9 9.06 8.1 Number of IP 1 1 partner 8.4 < 0.001 9.8 < 0.001 8.8 < 0.001 more than 1 20.7 16.8 19.8 Involved in paid sex Ever Yes 24.1 < 0.001 26.9 < 0.001 24.8 < 0.001 No 8.3 9.4 8.6 Don't know any source of condom No 8.1 < 0.001 9.4 < 0.01 8.4 < 0.001 Don't know 10.4 11.4 10.6 Total 8.7 9.9 9.0 (Source: NFHS-5), 1-IP: Intimate partner Table 2 : To be placed here. Flood and STIs among men aged 15–49 years in the flood-affected area. Table 3 highlights the results of the crude and adjusted logistic regression model for assessing the impact of floods on STI prevalence. The crude logistic regression model reveals that men exposed to flooding two or more times during 2018 to 2020 are 16% (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08–1.26) more likely to acquire any kind of STI compared to their counterparts who were not exposed to flooding. The result from the adjusted logistic regression model suggests that men exposed to flooding once during the same period are at 15% (AOR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04–1.27) higher risk of acquiring an STI. Table 3 Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis assessing the association between flood and STI prevalence among men, NFHS-5 (2019-21) Variable Crude OR 95% CI (Lower - Upper) Adjusted OR 95% CI (Lower - Upper) Exposure to flood (Ref: Not exposed) At least one time 1.15** 1.05–1.26 1.15*** 1.04–1.27 Two or more times 1.16*** 1.08–1.26 1.09 1.00–1.18 Age (Years) (Ref: 15–24) 25–29 0.76*** 0.69–0.84 0.86** 0.77–0.96 30–39 0.67*** 0.61–0.73 0.80*** 0.72–0.89 40–49 0.62*** 0.57–0.68 0.78*** 0.69–0.87 Resident (Ref: Urban) Rural 1.08* 1.01–1.15 0.97 0.90–1.06 Marital status (Ref: Never married) Currently married 0.65*** 0.60–0.71 0.89* 0.79–1.00 Divorced/widowed/separated/other 0.86 0.71–1.04 1.1 0.86–1.40 Year of education (Ref: No education) < 5 years 0.91 0.80–1.04 0.96 0.83–1.10 5–7 years 0.94 0.85–1.04 0.94 0.85–1.05 8–9 years 0.87*** 0.79–0.96 0.89* 0.81–0.99 10–11 years 0.98 0.89–1.08 1.01 0.91–1.13 12 or more years 0.84*** 0.77–0.92 0.88* 0.79–0.98 Social group (Ref: SC/ST) OBC 1.08* 1.02–1.15 0.97 0.91–1.04 Others 0.97 0.91–1.05 0.88** 0.81–0.97 Religion (Ref: Hindu) Muslim 1.43*** 1.32–1.54 1.47*** 1.34–1.61 Others 0.65*** 0.59–0.72 0.68*** 0.60–0.76 Wealth quantile (Ref: Poorest) Poorer 0.92 0.85–1.00 0.94 0.86–1.03 Middle 0.93 0.86–1.01 1.01 0.92–1.11 Richer 0.87*** 0.80–0.95 0.95 0.86–1.06 Richest 0.78*** 0.71–0.86 0.91 0.81–1.03 Occupation (Ref: Not working) Formal 0.81** 0.69–0.94 1.07 0.90–1.28 Sales 0.78*** 0.68–0.91 0.95 0.80–1.13 Domestic workers 0.92 0.79–1.08 1.12 0.94–1.33 Agricultural 0.92 0.81–1.04 1.16* 1.00–1.35 Skilled/unskilled 0.92 0.81–1.04 1.06 0.91–1.23 Others 0.88 0.74–1.05 1.06 0.87–1.29 Away from home for 1 or more month (last 12 months) (Ref: No) Yes 1.72*** 1.61–1.84 1.59*** 1.48–1.71 Number of IP 1 (Ref: One IP) More than 1 IP 2.58*** 2.22–2.99 1.74*** 1.47–2.06 Involved in paid sex Ever (Ref: No) Yes 3.52*** 3.14–3.94 2.56*** 2.24–2.92 Don’t know any source of condom (Ref: No) Yes, don’t know 1.29*** 1.21–1.37 1.08* 1.01–1.15 Note: p-value *<0.05; **<0.01; ***<0.001 (Source: NFHS-5), 1-IP: Intimate partner The results from adjusted logistic regression model shows that the likelihood of STI acquisition decreases with increasing age; men belonging to the age group of 40–49 years are at 22% (AOR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69–0.87) less risk to develop any kind of STI compared to the age group of 15–24 years. The religious background of the men was also found to be a significant predictor of STI prevalence. Men belonging to the Muslim religious background are at 47% (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.34–1.61) higher risk of developing any kind of STI, while men from other religious backgrounds are at 32% (AOR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.60–0.76) lower risk of STI acquisition compared to the men from Hindu religious backgrounds. Similarly, men staying outside the home for more than one month during the last 12 months were at 59% (AOR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.48–1.71) higher risk of acquiring any kind of STI. Other socio-economic variables like year of education, caste, marital status, and occupation group have been identified as marginally significant predictors of STI prevalence in the study. The study findings indicate that risky sexual behaviours are significantly associated with STI prevalence. Men who reported having more than one intimate partner were 74% (AOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.47–2.06) more likely to acquire an STI compared to those having only one intimate partner. Similarly, men who had ever engaged in paid sex have a 2.56 times higher odds ratio (AOR: 2.56, 95% CI: CI:2.24–2.92) of reporting an STI, while the variable of the men engaged in paid sex during last 12 month was dropped from multivariate logistic regression due to collinearity with ever engaged in paid sex. Additionally, a lack of knowledge about condom sources was associated with increased STI risk. Men who didn’t have any information about the condom source are at 8% (AOR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.15) higher risk of STI acquisition. Table 3 : To be placed here. The result of the population attributable fraction analysis indicates that 4.88% of the STIs are attributed to the flood exposure. This suggests that more than 1.76 million cases of STIs among men aged 15–49 years can be prevented if appropriate flood mitigation and response measures are implemented during and immediately after the flood. Discussion The finding of the present study highlights that about one in every ten men aged 15–49 years old has reported symptoms of STI during the last 12 months. This prevalence not only creates an additional burden on existing healthcare infrastructure, but it also stresses the individual’s out-of-pocket health expenditures (Suvirya et al., 2024 ). While studies from the past have explored the association between environmental disruption (temperature, hurricanes & heavy rainfall) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), its association with floods is still largely underexplored. The result of this study indicates that exposure to flooding increases the risk of STI acquisition and helps us to understand how environmental disruptions like floods can affect the sexual health outcome of society. The result of the present study suggests that exposure to flooding is positively associated with STI acquisition. Men who were exposed to a flood at least once during 2018 to 20 were at 15% higher risk of STI acquisition. The incidence of flooding causes disruption in livelihood and leads to the displacement of the population. Increased transactional sex in exchange for food and shelter during any flood increases the risk of STI acquisition (Luetke et al., 2020 ). Short-term displacement in relief camps during flood situations results in unethical sexual contact on several occasions, accompanied by unsafe sex practices like intercourse without a condom, which could also have a similar type of result (McMichael et al., 2012 ). Disruption in infrastructure and livelihood can also result in long-term displacement, which can cause mental trauma & stress (Werner et al., 2018 ). It can also increase the people’s participation in risky sexual behaviours like having multiple partners and engagement in paid sex, which can increase the burden of STI prevalence in society(Abels & Blignaut, 2011 ). Furthermore, the result highlights a higher prevalence of STIs among flood-exposed, unmarried, uneducated youth (15–24 years) compared to their counterparts who were not. Early initiation of sexual activity coupled with socioeconomic status, like poverty and social background, increases their participation in transactional sex (Rentschler et al., 2022 ). Changing behaviour of sexual activity (multiple intimate partners and engagement in paid sex) and constraints to healthcare services accessibility (contraceptive and treatment services) can also lead to an increased burden of STIs in younger age groups (Baeten & Heffron, 2015 ). Socio-economic distress created by natural disaster increased people’s participation in paid sex to cope with the situation, which can increase the risk of STI burden on society (Rowley et al., 2008 ). The study result reflects a similar type of result where flood-exposed men who engaged in paid sex reported a higher prevalence of STIs compared to their counterparts who were unexposed. The novel finding of the study is its contribution to filling the knowledge gap that exists on understanding how environmental disruptions like flooding can affect the sexual health of society. But at the same time, the study also has some limitations. The first limitation of the study is the nature of its design, which is cross-sectional. While adopting the longitudinal design in such a type of study can give better results in fostering knowledge on how the situation of a flood shapes the health outcome of a society. The second limitation of the study is the nature of the flood data that has been used in the study. While there is a lack of large-scale survey data on flood exposure, the study utilizes the annual report of the Central Water Commission to identify the district that experienced a severe and extreme flooding situation, which considers all the samples of that district to be flood-exposed. Even with such limitations, the study helps to contextualize the changing environment and its impact on the health outcome, especially the sexual health of society. This study also provides critical insight to policymakers to identify the targeted group and prepare tailored policies for addressing the increasing burden of STIs on society. Conclusions The study result indicates that exposure to floods increases the risk of STI acquisition. The changing climate scenario, especially the warming atmospheric conditions causing alterations in the nature and pattern of precipitation, leading to increased frequency and severity of floods. The increased flood not only disrupts the existing health care services (like screening councelling and treatment in the primary setting) but also increases the risk of unsafe sexual behaviours and results in a higher likelihood of STIs. In the face of climate change, a tailored programme is needed to aware people about safe sexual behaviours and provide essential sexual health care services to the people during and immediately after floods by strengthening the primary healthcare institutions in flood-affected areas. This step would be a step in reducing the STI burden of society and achieving the overall health and well-being of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3). Declarations Acknowledgement : Author acknowledge the support of research supervisor during this work. CRediT: AY: Conceptualization, Data compilation, Data analysis, Writing – original draft, Visualization. MJR: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – review & editing. Financial Support : Author doesn’t receive any financial support for the present study. Conflict of interest : The authors declare there is no conflict of interest. Data availability: The data utilized in the present is publically available on the public repository of Demographic and Health Survey, which can be submitting a brief research proposal describing the study methodology. It can be accessed through the website https://dhsprogram.com/data/. The data related to the flooding can be accessed through the website of http://www.cwc.gov.in central water commission, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India (GoI). Ethical consideration : No ethical consent was required for the present study because it was totally based on secondary data of National Family Health Survey, 2019-2021 and Central water commission annual report. All the data are available on the public repository of Demographic and Health Survey and Central water commission website. References Abels, M. D., & Blignaut, R. J. (2011). Sexual-risk behaviour among sexually active first-year students at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. African Journal of AIDS Research , 10 (3), 255–261. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2011.626295 Abrahamson, V., & Raine, R. (2009). Health and social care responses to the Department of Health Heatwave Plan. 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Spatio-temporal pattern and associate meteorological factors of airborne diseases in Bangladesh using geospatial mapping and spatial regression model. Health Science Reports , 7 (6), e2176. https://doi.org/10.1002/HSR2.2176;JOURNAL:JOURNAL:23988835 Dambre, C., Baumgart, N. J., Feron, S., Engel, O., Seddighi, H., Degomme, O., & Gallo, V. (2022). ‘It never rains, but it pours’–Disasters triggered by natural hazards, sexual risk-taking behavior, and the role of health systems: A worldwide ecological analysis. The Journal of Climate Change and Health , 8 , 100158. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOCLIM.2022.100158 Elendu, C., Amaechi, D. C., Elendu, I. D., Elendu, T. C., Amaechi, E. C., Usoro, E. U., Chima-Ogbuiyi, N. L., Arrey Agbor, D. B., Onwuegbule, C. J., Afolayan, E. F., & Balogun, B. B. (2024). Global perspectives on the burden of sexually transmitted diseases: A narrative review. 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Arab Journal of Urology , 19 (3), 411. https://doi.org/10.1080/2090598X.2021.1942414 Lin, C. K., & Chen, S. T. (2019). Estimation and application of population attributable fraction in ecological studies. Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source , 18 (1), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12940-019-0492-4/TABLES/1 Luetke, M., Judge, A., Kianersi, S., Jules, R., & Rosenberg, M. (2020). Hurricane impact associated with transactional sex and moderated, but not mediated, by economic factors in Okay, Haiti. Social Science & Medicine (1982) , 261 , 113189. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2020.113189 McMichael, C., Barnett, J., & McMichael, A. J. (2012). An III wind? Climate change, migration, and health. Environmental Health Perspectives , 120 (5), 646–654. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP.1104375/ASSET/FEB47C01-5604-435F-9F0B-697C3510D6BE/ASSETS/GRAPHIC/EHP.1104375.G001.JPG Nagata, J. M., Hampshire, K., Epstein, A., Lin, F., Zakaras, J., Murnane, P., Charlebois, E. D., Tsai, A. C., Nash, D., & Weiser, S. D. (2022). Analysis of Heavy Rainfall in Sub-Saharan Africa and HIV Transmission Risk, HIV Prevalence, and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2005-2017. JAMA Network Open , 5 (9), E2230282. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.30282 Nsuami, M. J., Taylor, S. N., Smith, B. S., & Martin, D. H. (2009). Increases in gonorrhea among high school students following hurricane Katrina. Sexually Transmitted Infections , 85 (3), 194–198. https://doi.org/10.1136/STI.2008.031781, Rentschler, J., Salhab, M., & Jafino, B. A. (2022). Flood exposure and poverty in 188 countries. Nat. Commun. , 13 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30727-4 Rowley, E. A., Spiegel, P. B., Tunze, Z., Mbaruku, G., Schilperoord, M., & Njogu, P. (2008). Differences in HIV-related behaviors at Lugufu refugee camp and surrounding host villages, Tanzania. Conflict and Health , 2 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1505-2-13 Suresh, R. (2021). Temperature effects on prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among at-risk female sex workers in India . https://repository.usfca.edu/thes Suvirya, S., Tripathi, S., Shukla, M., Verma, P., Kar, S. K., & Sachan, S. (2024). Out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditure among patients of sexually transmitted infections at a tertiary care center: A cross-sectional study. Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS , 45 (1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJSTD.IJSTD_56_23 Van Gerwen, O. T., Muzny, C. A., & Marrazzo, J. M. (2022). Sexually transmitted infections and female reproductive health. Nature Microbiology , 7 (8), 1116. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41564-022-01177-X Werner, K. B., Cunningham-Williams, R. M., Sewell, W., Agrawal, A., McCutcheon, V. V., Waldron, M., Heath, A. C., & Bucholz, K. K. (2018). The impact of traumatic experiences on risky sexual behaviors in Black and White young adult women. Women’s Health Issues: Official Publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health , 28 (5), 421. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WHI.2018.04.011 WHO. (2025, May). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) . https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis) Yang, Z., Huang, W., McKenzie, J. E., Xu, R., Yu, P., Wu, Y., Liu, Y., Wen, B., Zhang, Y., Yu, W., Ye, T., Zhang, Y., Ju, K., Hales, S., Coelho, M. de S. Z. S., Matus, P., Tantrakarnapa, K., Guo, Y. L., Kliengchuay, W., … Li, S. (2025). Hospitalization risks associated with floods in a multi-country study. Nature Water , 3 (5), 561–570. https://doi.org/10.1038/S44221-025-00425-8;SUBJMETA=228,692,699,700;KWRD=DISEASES,HEALTH+SERVICES Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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09:12:16","extension":"xml","order_by":7,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":141405,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"0f121d23e86c4b29b298da8983a9fd7d1structuring.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7101530/v1/40a4d58825c2ba86cd7c81e1.xml"},{"id":93573648,"identity":"69877677-71a4-4d19-904c-3850f8e57fcf","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-15 09:12:16","extension":"html","order_by":8,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":146920,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7101530/v1/72bb0bed2fa90361bfe5da49.html"},{"id":93573641,"identity":"8cd3a74a-422d-46fa-9304-c380b692e263","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-15 09:12:16","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1490965,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMapping of (a) flood occurrence (2018-20), (b) STI among Men (15-49 years), India\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7101530/v1/3b9199dabc407d80152574a4.png"},{"id":103720032,"identity":"c796d930-f935-4b00-9529-ae51ed36816d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-02 06:57:35","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3127130,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7101530/v1/db2e1020-b18b-4a39-9a4c-078bfd74f59c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Environmental Extremes and Sexual Health: A Study of Floods and STIs in India","fulltext":[{"header":"Background","content":"\u003cp\u003eSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant concern for sexual wellbeing and a global public health problem (Elendu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that almost 1\u0026nbsp;million cases of STIs are acquired daily in the age group of 15–49 years. Most of these STIs are caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, which are curable but asymptomatic (WHO, 2025). These STIs are communicable and can spread through sexual contact, leading to an increased risk of HIV acquisition, pelvic inflammatory disease, and cancer in women (Van Gerwen et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Men can also suffer from mild problems, such as pain or early discharge, to severe problems, such as infertility (Henkel, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). A child can be infected with STIs during pregnancy, which can result in stillbirth, neonatal death, low birth weight, and prematurity. Although cases of STIs are disproportionately distributed across the globe, countries from the lower-middle-income groups are bearing this burden. A higher prevalence of STIs is found in Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America because of a lack of awareness, lower socioeconomic development, and limited healthcare accessibility (Fu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). This additional burden not only affects individuals by increasing their out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare (Suvirya et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e) but also creates stress on the existing healthcare facilities of the country(Chesson et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). On the other hand, changing environmental conditions, such as increasing temperature and changing frequency and intensity of floods and hurricanes, are negatively hampering health and healthcare infrastructure (Abrahamson \u0026amp; Raine, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e; Guihenneuc et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecent changes in the frequency, intensity, and severity of environmental extremes threaten society, including health, through several pathways. The shifting spatiotemporal distribution of temperature and rainfall is causing outbreaks of new diseases in new spaces (Chowdhury \u0026amp; Rahman, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). Intense rainfall has become more frequent and is disrupting the socioeconomic setup with adverse health outcomes. It also leads to flooding, which causes life and economic losses. Displacement caused by flooding results in the deterioration of an individual's health due to reduced healthcare accessibility (Rentschler et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Yang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). Increased participation in transactional sex for food and shelter to cope with adverse conditions increases the risk of sexual and reproductive health diseases (Luetke et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Unhygienic living spaces and multiple contacts in temporary shelters also increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), while reduced access to contraceptives, such as condoms, can further deteriorate sexual and reproductive health outcomes (Abels \u0026amp; Blignaut, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Similarly, long-term migration caused by flooding in search of food and livelihood also increases the risk of STDs by increasing participation in paid sex (Luetke et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Subsequently, this increased burden of STDs hampers the individual’s development by putting an additional burden on their out-of-pocket health expenditure and hinders the country’s effort to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 (health and wellbeing).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe association between environmental extremes and STDs has been extensively explored worldwide. A longitudinal study conducted by Nsuami, among schoolchildren in the USA, revealed that students whose neighbours were affected by the hurricane were at a higher risk of STIs such as gonorrhea (Nsuami et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e). Similarly, a global-level study conducted in more than 100 countries revealed that exposure to natural hazards was positively associated with the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Dambre et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). A study from sub-Saharan Africa using cross-sectional survey data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) revealed that exposure to heavy rainfall was positively associated with HIV and STI incidence. Exposure to heavy rainfall was positively associated with deteriorating condition of food security and increased inability to negotiate for safe sex. The results suggest that respondents exposed to heavy rainfall had 1.14 times the odds of HIV incidence and 1.11 times the odds of STI incidence (Nagata et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). A similar study was conducted in India among female sex workers to test the association between STI incidence and temperature. The results of this study suggest that higher temperatures are positively associated with an increased risk of STIs among female sex workers (Suresh, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrevious studies have explored the association between different environmental factors and STIs; however, no study has yet explored the association between STIs and floods. Therefore, the present study aimed to address this gap and explore the association between STIs and floods. The study also explored how different risky sexual behaviours shape the STI prevalence in the study area. To fulfil this objective, men's record data from the NFHS-5 were utilized. The reason for using men's data for the study is that, in the situation of flooding, men serve as intermediaries between families and society in the Indian context. This increases the risk of adverse health outcomes, such as physical injury, physiological health, sexual and reproductive health, and sometimes loss of life.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Data and method","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eData source\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe present study utilized the men's record dataset from the latest round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), which was conducted during 2019–2021. The NFHS data are a nationally representative, large-scale survey data representing all states and union territories at the district level. The survey adopts a multistage, stratified, and probability sampling design for the selection of the samples. This survey contains 7,24,115 samples of women aged 15–49 years, 6,36,699 household samples, and 1,01,839 men samples aged 15–54 years. The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) plays a leading role in conducting the NFHS survey under the supervision and guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. This survey covers a wide range of population and health indicators, such as maternal and child health, fertility and mortality, communicable and non-communicable diseases, child anthropometric measures, WASH practices, healthcare utilization, and biomarker data at the district and state levels.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure 1: To be placed here\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStudy design\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo evaluate the association between STI prevalence and floods, this study adopted a cross-sectional design using data from men's recode (101,839 samples) of the fifth round of the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-5). The study focused on men aged between 15 and 49 years (93,267 samples), while men who reported that they had never engaged in any kind of sexual activity (30,619 samples) or did not know about STIs (15 samples) were excluded from this study. The remaining 62,633 (unweighted) male samples were used to explore the association between STI prevalence and floods (Fig.\u0026nbsp;1).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutcome variable\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe outcome variable for the present study was men reporting any kind of STI. Three different questions regarding STI prevalence (“had any STI in last 12 months,” “had genital sore/ulcer in last 12 months,” and “had genital discharge in last 12 months”) were asked during the NFHS-5 survey. The responses to these questions were recorded as ‘yes’, ‘no’, and ‘don’t know’. An aggregate index of responses from these three questions was prepared in binary format, where respondents reporting yes for any one of them were categorized as 1, which means ‘men suffering from any kind of STI’, while other responses were recoded as 0, which means ‘not suffering from STI’.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExplanatory variables\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this study, flood- and non-flood-affected areas were used as key predictors. Data on floods at the district level were acquired from the annual report of the Central Water Commission (CWC), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India (GoI) for 2018, 2019, and 2020. Districts experiencing severe and extreme flooding at least once during 2018–2020 were considered flood-affected areas. While recording the data, districts affected by floods at least once during 2018–2020 were coded as 1, districts affected for two or more years were coded as 2, and the remaining non-flood-affected districts were coded as 0. The study also includes several other socioeconomic covariates such as age (15–24, 25–29, 30–39, 40–49 years), place of residence (rural and urban), years of education (no education, \u0026lt; 5, 5–7, 8–9, 10–11, 12 or more years), marital status (never married, currently married, and widowed/divorced/separated), caste (scheduled caste/scheduled tribe, OBC, and others), religion (Hindu, Muslim, Others), wealth quantile (poorest, poor, middle, richer, and richest), occupation (not working, formal, sales, domestic workers, agricultural worker, skilled/unskilled, and others), and staying away from home for more than one month during the last 12 months (yes and no), along with other possible explanatory variables related to risky sexual behaviours. The variables related to risky sexual behaviours were having multiple intimate partners (one intimate partner, more than one intimate partner), ever engaging in paid sex (yes, no), and having information about the source of the condom (yes, no).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStatistical analyses\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescriptive statistics were employed to summarize the background characteristics of the sampled population across various socioeconomic predictors. Bivariate percentage distribution was used to estimate the prevalence of STIs among men based on different socioeconomic and other contextual predictors. Pearson’s chi-square statistic was later tested among predictors with a significance level of 0.05. This study also applied multivariate logistic regression models to examine the association between flood exposure and STI prevalence. The results of the logistic regression model are presented as both unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The state men’s weight is applied to the district level estimates, and the national weight is applied for all India estimates.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFurthermore, this study estimated the population attribution fraction (PAF) method to quantify the disease burden attributed to a particular risk factor. It generally refers to the fraction of the disease burden that can be eliminated if mitigation measures are taken against that particular risk factor (Askari \u0026amp; Namayandeh, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Lin \u0026amp; Chen, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Equa\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\u003cdiv format=\"TEX\" class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equa\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e\n$$\\:\\text{PAF}=\\frac{{P}_{e}\\times\\:\\left(OR-1\\right)}{{P}_{e}\\times\\:\\left(OR-1\\right)+1}$$\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhere,\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eP\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003ee\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cem\u003e​\u003c/em\u003e = refers to the prevalence of exposure to the risk factor.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOR\u003c/b\u003e = represents the odds ratio, typically adjusted for relevant confounders.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study utilized a 61,963 sample (weighted) of men aged between 15 to 49 years for the analysis, from which 9.3% of the men reported any kind of STIs. 65.8% men suffering from any kind of STIs belong to the non-flood affected region, while 34.2% men suffering from STIs belong to flood flood-affected region. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e presents a summary of the background of the sample of the study (Table \u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBackground characteristics of the sampled men aged 15\u0026ndash;49 years reporting STIs, NFHS-5 (2019-21)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNon-Flood Affected\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFlood Affected\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge (Years)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Weighted n, %)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Weighted n, %)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Weighted n, %)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15\u0026ndash;24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e664 (17.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e272 (13.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e935 (16.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e669 (17.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e318 (16.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e987 (17.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30\u0026ndash;39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,423 (37.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e719 (36.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,142 (37.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40\u0026ndash;49\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,052 (27.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e668 (33.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,720 (29.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResident\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUrban\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,112 (29.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e551 (27.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,662 (28.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRural\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,697 (70.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,425 (72.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4,122 (71.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital Status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNever Married\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e513 (13.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e223 (11.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e735 (12.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCurrently Married\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,226 (84.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,701 (86.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4,927 (85.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWidowed/Divorced/Separated\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e70 (1.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52 (2.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e123 (2.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear of Education\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo Schooling\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e491 (12.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e347 (17.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e839 (14.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e409 (10.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e185 (9.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e594 (10.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u0026ndash;7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e644 (16.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e360 (18.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,003 (17.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u0026ndash;9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e720 (18.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e345 (17.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,064 (18.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u0026ndash;11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e574 (15.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e272 (13.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e845 (14.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12 or more\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e971 (25.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e468 (23.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,439 (24.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSocial Group\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSC/ST\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,175 (30.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e703 (35.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,878 (32.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOBC\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,504 (39.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e743 (37.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,246 (38.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,130 (29.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e531 (26.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,661 (28.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHindu\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,846 (74.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,573 (79.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4,420 (76.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMuslim\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e813 (21.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e367 (18.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,180 (20.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e149 (3.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36 (1.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e185 (3.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWealth Quintile\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoorest\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e820 (21.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e526 (26.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,347 (23.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoorer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e840 (22.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e437 (22.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,277 (22.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMiddle\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e827 (21.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e433 (21.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,260 (21.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRicher\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e742 (19.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e327 (16.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,069 (18.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichest\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e580 (15.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e253 (12.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e832 (14.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOccupation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot Working\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e167 (4.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e96 (4.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e264 (4.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFormal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e251 (6.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e169 (8.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e420 (7.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSales\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e314 (8.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e186 (9.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e500 (8.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDomestic Work\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e345 (9.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e171 (8.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e516 (8.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAgricultural\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,329 (34.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e685 (34.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,014 (34.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSkilled/Unskilled\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,159 (30.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e578 (29.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,737 (30.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e243 (6.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92 (4.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e335 (5.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAway from Home\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;1 Month\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e845 (22.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e434 (22.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,279 (22.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,963 (77.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,542 (78.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4,505 (77.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of IP\u003c/b\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cb\u003e1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne IP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,618 (95.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,927 (97.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5,540 (95.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;1 IP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e191 (5.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49 (2.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e243 (4.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEver Engaged in Paid Sex\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e381 (10.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e156 (7.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e538 (9.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,428 (90.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,820 (92.1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5,246 (90.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKnows Condom Source\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,703 (71.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,439 (72.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4,141 (71.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon\u0026rsquo;t Know\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,106 (29.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e537 (27.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,643 (28.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,809 (100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,976 (100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5,784 (100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3809 (100)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1976(100)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5784(100)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"4\"\u003eColumn wise sample distribution: 100% (Source: NFHS-5), 1-IP: Intimate partner\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e: To be placed here\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e: To be placed here\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrevalence of STIs among men by background characteristics\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA higher prevalence of STI (12.26%) has been found in the 15\u0026ndash;24 years age group among the men residing in urban areas (9.1%) as compared to their counterparts (Table \u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, men with no educational background (9.8%) who were never married (12.5%) showed a higher prevalence of STIs than higher educational backgrounds and married men, respectively. Similarly, higher prevalence of STIs has been found among men from OBC (9.4%) and the Muslim religion (12.3%) as compared to Others and the Hindu community, respectively. The study findings also highlight that the prevalence of the STI decreases with the improvement of wealth status. Men who do not belong to any occupational group (9.8%) showed higher STI prevalence compared to the other occupational groups. Similarly, men staying outside the home for more than one month during the past 12 months (13.25%) reported a higher prevalence of STIs than those who were staying at home. Men's engagement in risky sexual behaviour is significantly associated with a higher prevalence of STIs. Further, men having more than one intimate partner (19.82%) reported higher STI prevalence compared to those who have only one intimate partner. Men who were ever engaged in paid sex (24.8%) reported higher STI prevalence than those who never engaged in paid sex. Additionally, men having no information about the source of the condom (10.6%) have also reported higher STI prevalence compared to their counterparts who have information about the source of the condom.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrevalence of STIs among men by background characteristics of respondents, NFHS-5 (2019-21)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNon-flood affected\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFlood affected\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrevalence rate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrevalence rate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eprevalence rate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge (Years)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15\u0026ndash;24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30\u0026ndash;39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40\u0026ndash;49\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResident\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUrban\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRural\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNever married\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCurrently married\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWidowed/divorced/separated\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear of education\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eno schooling\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u0026ndash;7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u0026ndash;9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u0026ndash;11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12 or more\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSocial group\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSC/ST\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOBC\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHindu\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMuslim\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWealth quantile\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003epoorest\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003epoorer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emiddle\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ericher\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003erichest\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOccupation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot working\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFormal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSales\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDomestic workers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAgricultural\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSkilled/unskilled\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAway from home for 1 or more month in last 12 months\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of IP\u003c/b\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cb\u003e1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1 partner\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emore than 1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInvolved in paid sex\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEver\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDon't know any source of condom\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't know\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTotal\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"7\"\u003e(Source: NFHS-5), 1-IP: Intimate partner\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e: To be placed here.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlood and STIs among men aged 15\u0026ndash;49 years in the flood-affected area.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e highlights the results of the crude and adjusted logistic regression model for assessing the impact of floods on STI prevalence. The crude logistic regression model reveals that men exposed to flooding two or more times during 2018 to 2020 are 16% (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08\u0026ndash;1.26) more likely to acquire any kind of STI compared to their counterparts who were not exposed to flooding. The result from the adjusted logistic regression model suggests that men exposed to flooding once during the same period are at 15% (AOR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04\u0026ndash;1.27) higher risk of acquiring an STI.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis assessing the association between flood and STI prevalence among men, NFHS-5 (2019-21)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCrude OR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e95% CI (Lower - Upper)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdjusted OR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e95% CI (Lower - Upper)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExposure to flood\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: Not exposed)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt least one time\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.15**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.05\u0026ndash;1.26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.15***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.04\u0026ndash;1.27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo or more times\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.16***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.08\u0026ndash;1.26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.00\u0026ndash;1.18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge (Years)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: 15\u0026ndash;24)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.76***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.69\u0026ndash;0.84\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.77\u0026ndash;0.96\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30\u0026ndash;39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.67***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.61\u0026ndash;0.73\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.80***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.72\u0026ndash;0.89\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40\u0026ndash;49\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.62***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.57\u0026ndash;0.68\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.78***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.69\u0026ndash;0.87\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResident\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: Urban)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRural\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.08*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.01\u0026ndash;1.15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.97\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.90\u0026ndash;1.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: Never married)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCurrently married\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.65***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.60\u0026ndash;0.71\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.89*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.79\u0026ndash;1.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDivorced/widowed/separated/other\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.71\u0026ndash;1.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86\u0026ndash;1.40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear of education\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: No education)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5 years\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.91\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.80\u0026ndash;1.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.96\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.83\u0026ndash;1.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u0026ndash;7 years\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.94\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.85\u0026ndash;1.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.94\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.85\u0026ndash;1.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u0026ndash;9 years\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.87***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.79\u0026ndash;0.96\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.89*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.81\u0026ndash;0.99\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u0026ndash;11 years\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.98\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.89\u0026ndash;1.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.91\u0026ndash;1.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12 or more years\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.84***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.77\u0026ndash;0.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.88*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.79\u0026ndash;0.98\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSocial group\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: SC/ST)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOBC\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.08*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.02\u0026ndash;1.15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.97\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.91\u0026ndash;1.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.97\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.91\u0026ndash;1.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.88**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.81\u0026ndash;0.97\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: Hindu)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMuslim\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.43***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.32\u0026ndash;1.54\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.47***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.34\u0026ndash;1.61\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.65***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.59\u0026ndash;0.72\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.68***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.60\u0026ndash;0.76\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWealth quantile\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: Poorest)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoorer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.85\u0026ndash;1.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.94\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86\u0026ndash;1.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMiddle\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.93\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86\u0026ndash;1.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.92\u0026ndash;1.11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRicher\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.87***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.80\u0026ndash;0.95\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.95\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86\u0026ndash;1.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichest\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.78***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.71\u0026ndash;0.86\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.91\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.81\u0026ndash;1.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOccupation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: Not working)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFormal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.81**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.69\u0026ndash;0.94\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.90\u0026ndash;1.28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSales\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.78***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.68\u0026ndash;0.91\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.95\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.80\u0026ndash;1.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDomestic workers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.79\u0026ndash;1.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.94\u0026ndash;1.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAgricultural\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.81\u0026ndash;1.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.16*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.00\u0026ndash;1.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSkilled/unskilled\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.81\u0026ndash;1.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.91\u0026ndash;1.23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.88\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.74\u0026ndash;1.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.87\u0026ndash;1.29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAway from home for 1 or more month (last 12 months)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: No)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.72***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.61\u0026ndash;1.84\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.59***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.48\u0026ndash;1.71\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of IP\u003c/b\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cb\u003e1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: One IP)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore than 1 IP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.58***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.22\u0026ndash;2.99\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.74***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.47\u0026ndash;2.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInvolved in paid sex\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEver (Ref: No)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.52***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.14\u0026ndash;3.94\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.56***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.24\u0026ndash;2.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDon\u0026rsquo;t know any source of condom\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Ref: No)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, don\u0026rsquo;t know\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.29***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.21\u0026ndash;1.37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.08*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.01\u0026ndash;1.15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eNote: p-value *\u0026lt;0.05; **\u0026lt;0.01; ***\u0026lt;0.001 (Source: NFHS-5),\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003e1-IP: Intimate partner\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe results from adjusted logistic regression model shows that the likelihood of STI acquisition decreases with increasing age; men belonging to the age group of 40\u0026ndash;49 years are at 22% (AOR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69\u0026ndash;0.87) less risk to develop any kind of STI compared to the age group of 15\u0026ndash;24 years. The religious background of the men was also found to be a significant predictor of STI prevalence. Men belonging to the Muslim religious background are at 47% (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.34\u0026ndash;1.61) higher risk of developing any kind of STI, while men from other religious backgrounds are at 32% (AOR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.60\u0026ndash;0.76) lower risk of STI acquisition compared to the men from Hindu religious backgrounds. Similarly, men staying outside the home for more than one month during the last 12 months were at 59% (AOR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.48\u0026ndash;1.71) higher risk of acquiring any kind of STI. Other socio-economic variables like year of education, caste, marital status, and occupation group have been identified as marginally significant predictors of STI prevalence in the study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study findings indicate that risky sexual behaviours are significantly associated with STI prevalence. Men who reported having more than one intimate partner were 74% (AOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.47\u0026ndash;2.06) more likely to acquire an STI compared to those having only one intimate partner. Similarly, men who had ever engaged in paid sex have a 2.56 times higher odds ratio (AOR: 2.56, 95% CI: CI:2.24\u0026ndash;2.92) of reporting an STI, while the variable of the men engaged in paid sex during last 12 month was dropped from multivariate logistic regression due to collinearity with ever engaged in paid sex. Additionally, a lack of knowledge about condom sources was associated with increased STI risk. Men who didn\u0026rsquo;t have any information about the condom source are at 8% (AOR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01\u0026ndash;1.15) higher risk of STI acquisition.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e: To be placed here.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result of the population attributable fraction analysis indicates that 4.88% of the STIs are attributed to the flood exposure. This suggests that more than 1.76\u0026nbsp;million cases of STIs among men aged 15\u0026ndash;49 years can be prevented if appropriate flood mitigation and response measures are implemented during and immediately after the flood.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe finding of the present study highlights that about one in every ten men aged 15\u0026ndash;49 years old has reported symptoms of STI during the last 12 months. This prevalence not only creates an additional burden on existing healthcare infrastructure, but it also stresses the individual\u0026rsquo;s out-of-pocket health expenditures (Suvirya et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). While studies from the past have explored the association between environmental disruption (temperature, hurricanes \u0026amp; heavy rainfall) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), its association with floods is still largely underexplored. The result of this study indicates that exposure to flooding increases the risk of STI acquisition and helps us to understand how environmental disruptions like floods can affect the sexual health outcome of society.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result of the present study suggests that exposure to flooding is positively associated with STI acquisition. Men who were exposed to a flood at least once during 2018 to 20 were at 15% higher risk of STI acquisition. The incidence of flooding causes disruption in livelihood and leads to the displacement of the population. Increased transactional sex in exchange for food and shelter during any flood increases the risk of STI acquisition (Luetke et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Short-term displacement in relief camps during flood situations results in unethical sexual contact on several occasions, accompanied by unsafe sex practices like intercourse without a condom, which could also have a similar type of result (McMichael et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e). Disruption in infrastructure and livelihood can also result in long-term displacement, which can cause mental trauma \u0026amp; stress (Werner et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). It can also increase the people\u0026rsquo;s participation in risky sexual behaviours like having multiple partners and engagement in paid sex, which can increase the burden of STI prevalence in society(Abels \u0026amp; Blignaut, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFurthermore, the result highlights a higher prevalence of STIs among flood-exposed, unmarried, uneducated youth (15\u0026ndash;24 years) compared to their counterparts who were not. Early initiation of sexual activity coupled with socioeconomic status, like poverty and social background, increases their participation in transactional sex (Rentschler et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Changing behaviour of sexual activity (multiple intimate partners and engagement in paid sex) and constraints to healthcare services accessibility (contraceptive and treatment services) can also lead to an increased burden of STIs in younger age groups (Baeten \u0026amp; Heffron, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). Socio-economic distress created by natural disaster increased people\u0026rsquo;s participation in paid sex to cope with the situation, which can increase the risk of STI burden on society (Rowley et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). The study result reflects a similar type of result where flood-exposed men who engaged in paid sex reported a higher prevalence of STIs compared to their counterparts who were unexposed.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe novel finding of the study is its contribution to filling the knowledge gap that exists on understanding how environmental disruptions like flooding can affect the sexual health of society. But at the same time, the study also has some limitations. The first limitation of the study is the nature of its design, which is cross-sectional. While adopting the longitudinal design in such a type of study can give better results in fostering knowledge on how the situation of a flood shapes the health outcome of a society. The second limitation of the study is the nature of the flood data that has been used in the study. While there is a lack of large-scale survey data on flood exposure, the study utilizes the annual report of the Central Water Commission to identify the district that experienced a severe and extreme flooding situation, which considers all the samples of that district to be flood-exposed. Even with such limitations, the study helps to contextualize the changing environment and its impact on the health outcome, especially the sexual health of society. This study also provides critical insight to policymakers to identify the targeted group and prepare tailored policies for addressing the increasing burden of STIs on society.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study result indicates that exposure to floods increases the risk of STI acquisition. The changing climate scenario, especially the warming atmospheric conditions causing alterations in the nature and pattern of precipitation, leading to increased frequency and severity of floods. The increased flood not only disrupts the existing health care services (like screening councelling and treatment in the primary setting) but also increases the risk of unsafe sexual behaviours and results in a higher likelihood of STIs. In the face of climate change, a tailored programme is needed to aware people about safe sexual behaviours and provide essential sexual health care services to the people during and immediately after floods by strengthening the primary healthcare institutions in flood-affected areas. This step would be a step in reducing the STI burden of society and achieving the overall health and well-being of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/strong\u003e: Author acknowledge the support of research supervisor during this work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCRediT:\u003c/strong\u003e AY: Conceptualization, Data compilation, Data analysis, Writing \u0026ndash; original draft, Visualization. MJR: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing \u0026ndash; review \u0026amp; editing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinancial Support\u003c/strong\u003e: Author doesn\u0026rsquo;t receive any financial support for the present study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest\u003c/strong\u003e: The authors declare there is no conflict of interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability:\u003c/strong\u003e The data utilized in the present is publically available on the public repository of Demographic and Health Survey, which can be submitting a brief research proposal describing the study methodology. It can be accessed through the website https://dhsprogram.com/data/. The data related to the flooding can be accessed through the website of http://www.cwc.gov.in central water commission, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India (GoI). \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical consideration\u003c/strong\u003e: No ethical consent was required for the present study because it was totally based on secondary data of National Family Health Survey, 2019-2021 and Central water commission annual report. All the data are available on the public repository of Demographic and Health Survey and Central water commission website.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbels, M. D., \u0026amp; Blignaut, R. J. (2011). 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Out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditure among patients of sexually transmitted infections at a tertiary care center: A cross-sectional study. \u003cem\u003eIndian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e45\u003c/em\u003e(1), 25\u0026ndash;30. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJSTD.IJSTD_56_23\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVan Gerwen, O. T., Muzny, C. A., \u0026amp; Marrazzo, J. M. (2022). Sexually transmitted infections and female reproductive health. \u003cem\u003eNature Microbiology\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e7\u003c/em\u003e(8), 1116. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41564-022-01177-X\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWerner, K. B., Cunningham-Williams, R. M., Sewell, W., Agrawal, A., McCutcheon, V. V., Waldron, M., Heath, A. C., \u0026amp; Bucholz, K. K. (2018). The impact of traumatic experiences on risky sexual behaviors in Black and White young adult women. \u003cem\u003eWomen\u0026rsquo;s Health Issues: Official Publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women\u0026rsquo;s Health\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e28\u003c/em\u003e(5), 421. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WHI.2018.04.011\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWHO. (2025, May). \u003cem\u003eSexually transmitted infections (STIs)\u003c/em\u003e. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYang, Z., Huang, W., McKenzie, J. E., Xu, R., Yu, P., Wu, Y., Liu, Y., Wen, B., Zhang, Y., Yu, W., Ye, T., Zhang, Y., Ju, K., Hales, S., Coelho, M. de S. Z. S., Matus, P., Tantrakarnapa, K., Guo, Y. L., Kliengchuay, W., \u0026hellip; Li, S. (2025). Hospitalization risks associated with floods in a multi-country study. \u003cem\u003eNature Water\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e3\u003c/em\u003e(5), 561\u0026ndash;570. https://doi.org/10.1038/S44221-025-00425-8;SUBJMETA=228,692,699,700;KWRD=DISEASES,HEALTH+SERVICES\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Extreme weather event, EWE, Climate change, Sexually transmitted diseases, STD","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7101530/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7101530/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a significant global public health burden. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one million new STI cases occur daily worldwide. Previous studies have shown that exposure to extreme environmental conditions is positively associated with STI prevalence, but the specific effect of floods remains underexplored.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAim:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study aims to examine the association between flood exposure and STI prevalence among men.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData and Methods:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study utilized the men recode dataset from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and district-level flood data from the annual report of the Central Water Commission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests to assess STI prevalence across covariates, and binary logistic regression to estimate the risk of STIs associated with flood exposure.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFindings indicate that men exposed to floods have a 15% higher risk of acquiring STIs (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04\u0026ndash;1.27). Risky sexual behaviours such as having more than one intimate partner (AOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.47\u0026ndash;2.06) and engagement in paid sex (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 2.24\u0026ndash;2.92) further increase STI risk. A higher prevalence of STIs was observed among unmarried men aged 15\u0026ndash;24 years exposed to floods (13.94%, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; 13.6%, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, respectively) as compared to their counterparts. Population attributable fraction analysis suggests that over 1.7\u0026nbsp;million STI cases could be prevented with effective mitigation measures.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFlood exposure increases the risk of STIs by disrupting daily activities and healthcare services. Timely implementation of appropriate mitigation strategies during and immediately after floods is essential to reduce the STI prevalence.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Environmental Extremes and Sexual Health: A Study of Floods and STIs in India","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-15 09:12:11","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7101530/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"32e8c617-5e2b-426e-bf16-38c23cbbeb87","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 15th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-02T06:56:48+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-15 09:12:11","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7101530","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7101530","identity":"rs-7101530","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}