International Journal of Contemporary Medicine, January-June 2015, Vol. 3, No. 1 59 DOI Number: 10.5958/2320-5962.2014.00001.1 A Study on Epidemiology and Characteristics of High Risk Group individuals at Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic of Eluru, West Godavari District, A.P Chandrasekhar Vallepalli 1 , K Chandra Sekhar 2 , P G Deotale 3 , Sandhya Sree Gogineni 4 , Hetal Vithalani 5 1 Post Graduate Student, 2 Professor, 3 Professor and HOD, Department of Community Medicine, 4 Intern, Alluri Sita Ramaraju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, 5 3rd year MD Student, Windsor University School of Medicine, Cayon, St. Kitts ABSTRACT Introduction: World Health Organization (WHO) estimates (2006) that approximately 340 million new cases of Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Trichomoniasis occur globally every year. In India, high risk groups (HRG) include female sex workers (FSWs), men who have sex with men (MSM), transgenders (TGs) and injecting drug users (IDUs). High burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amongst HRGs has been reported from most developing nations. Improved primary care of symptomatic and asymptomatic STIs through programmes targeting vulnerable groups has been promoted. HIV transmission has been shown to be strongly associated with repeated STIs and sexual groups perceived to have higher risk sexual behaviour are targeted with HIV and STI prevention interventions under NACO's National AIDS Control Programme (NACP). Objectives: To study the demographic variables among HRG individuals and to determine the STI morbidity pattern and the incidence of HIV among HRG individuals. Materials and Method: The STI clinic based cohort study was conducted at sexually transmitted infection clinic of Eluru, West Godavari district from October 2012 to September 2013. A total of 1446 HRG individuals were tracked during the study period. All clinic visits were recorded in the routine clinical monitoring system using unique identification numbers and standardized clinical encounter form. Results were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007 and necessary statistical tests like simple proportions and chi square tests were applied. Results: 1166 (80.6%) were FSW and 280 (19.4%) were MSM in the study group. 1023(70.7%) were in the age group of 26-35 years. A total of 80(5.5%) new STI cases were recorded during the study period. 58 (72.5%) of 80 were married. Female STI individuals were having incidence of vagino - cervical discharge syndrome, lower abdominal pain syndrome, genital ulcer disease syndrome and inguinal bubo syndrome as 60%, 27.3%, 11% and 1.7% respectively. Conclusion: There was statistically significant association was found between STI morbidity and type of HRG individual (P<0.05). Based on the above study, utilization of STI clinic services can improve health seeking behavior, decreasing trends in STI syndromes and reduction in STI incidence. Keywords: STI Clinic, High Risk Groups, Female Sex Workers, Transgenders, Vagino-Cervical Discharge Syndrome INTRODUCTION World Health Organization (WHO) estimates (2006) that approximately 340 million new cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia and trichomoniasis occur globally every year. 1 Of which 12 million new Corresponding author: Chandrasekhar Vallepalli Postgraduate Student Department of Community Medicine, ASRAM Medical College, Eluru, A.P., India.-534005 E-mail: drvchandrasekhar@gmail.com