Reproductive tract infections: the forgotten and neglected component of family planning services.

Although reproductive tract infections (RTIs) threaten the health of many women, they continue to be ignored by the research and health professional communities. There has been little research and only a few pilot programs to develop, implement, and evaluate effective strategies to prevent, detect, or treat RTIs at the primary health care level. This paper reviews published work and the authors' experiences in Asia and the Pacific, with particular attention to Bangladesh, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam. They describe the extent of RTIs, discuss the reasons for the overall neglect of RTIs despite clearly demonstrated need, and discuss issues related to including RTIs in family planning programs. The authors argue for the expansion of services in family planning and…