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13: UTI 2 FINAL ACC

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    UN-SDG TOPIC: Urinary Tract Infections In Women

    Group 8 - Three Anonymous Students

    College of Southern Nevada

    Sociology 101

    Professor Flora E. Rudacille

    12/7/2025

    Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide, but their impact varies depending on gender, age, and social conditions. The causes and risks affect both men and women around the world. While women experience higher infection rates due to anatomical and hormonal factors, men often face delayed diagnosis or inappropriate treatment because UTIs are less common in the male population. However, social and environmental conditions such as access to clean water, menstrual hygiene, healthcare availability, and proper antibiotic use, UTI outcomes all genders. Research shows that UTIs become especially complex in populations facing poverty, aging, pregnancy, showing that these infections are not only biological conditions but also public health issues influenced by inequality and inconsistent medical practices. All together, the studies in men and women have shown the understanding that UTIs require when examining how gender, environment, and healthcare systems interact to impact infection risk and treatment success.

    Environmental and social inequalities significantly shape UTI risk for both men and women, though women are excessively affected. In low income communities, limited to clean water and sanitation increases infection risk by making basic hygiene difficult for everyone, but most specifically to women who do require additional hygiene support during menstruation. Makusha (2020) stated that, “ inadequate access to clean water and sanitation in informal settlements increases the vulnerability of female residents to UTIs,” showing how environmental conditions affect women's health. Menstruators facing financial challenges also experience increased infection risk because they often rely on unsafe materials during their periods, which can lead to bad bacteria and heighten the higher chance of an infection (Glayzer, Jennings, Schlaeger, Watkins, Rieseler, Ray, Lee, & Glayzer, 2024). Men as well are affected by the environmental and systemic issues mostly when limited to healthcare it leads to delayed diagnosis or misuse of antibiotics. In Malawi, for example, nearly half of UTI cases in both men and women have shown resistance to common antibiotics due to poor hygiene and self medication (Pensulo, 2025). These studies have shown that while UTIs impact all genders, social inequality and as well environmental barriers, that makes UTI a public health concern rather than just a biological condition.

    Research further demonstrates how age, health care quality, and treatment practices shape UTI outcomes across populations. Pregnant individuals face uniquely high risk due to physiological changes that change urinary flow and weaken immune responses. In South Africa, research found that pregnant women admitted with UTIs often experienced complications such as preterm birth, anemia, and kidney impairment, especially in hospitals where follow-up care and diagnostic accuracy were inconsistent (de Paul, 2016). These findings underscore how UTI severity escalates when vulnerable groups lack timely, high-quality medical attention. Similarly, older adults, particularly older women, face heightened risk due to age-related changes, weaker immune systems, and other comorbidities. While some theories have linked older adults infection risk to gut microbiome disruptions, (Winter, Obara, & McMahon, 2020) found no significant connections between microbiome variations and UTI history in aged-care residents. Instead, their research suggested that factors such as antibiotic exposure, chronic illness, and environmental conditions may play far greater roles in infection susceptibility.

    Research shows that preventing and treating UTIs involves more than just taking antibiotics, especially for women who get them more frequently. “It is estimated at least one third of women will develop a urinary tract infection (UTI) in their lifetime” (Davis & Rantell, 2017). Many women get repeated infections because bacteria from the gut can reach the urinary tract. This risk is higher when hygiene is difficult, such as not having access to clean water, using unsafe menstrual products, or not having proper washing facilities. These findings show that stopping UTIs requires not only medicine but also education, better hygiene, and access to clean water. It highlights that UTIs are affected by both biology and social conditions. Addressing these factors can help reduce the number of infections and prevent serious health complications. Community programs that teach proper hygiene and provide resources for safe menstrual care have been shown to lower UTI rates in vulnerable populations.

    Beyond environmental and social factors, research has shown how the treatment quality and antibiotic management played a major role in shaping UTI outcomes, especially for men and older women. While UTIs are less common in men, inappropriate or inconsistent antibiotic prescribing is still a main issue. (Biguenet et al, 2025) found that male UTI patients often received antibiotics that did not align with clinical recommendations, increasing the risk of resistance and treatment failure. These prescribing patterns highlight how gaps in healthcare knowledge and diagnostic accuracy can worsen infection outcomes for men and make their health worsen. Older women, however, face recurring UTIs that are influenced not only by biological changes but as well by medical system challenges. According to (Ganı̇ dağli, Öztürk, and Öztürk 2023), recurrent UTIs in older women are often tied to poor treatment plans, delayed medical evaluation, and the underrecognition of early symptoms, making the condition more complex than just a simple infection. Together, these findings reveal that UTI outcomes depend heavily on the quality of healthcare access and antibiotics, emphasizing the need for more consistent, evidence based treatment across genders and age groups.

    In conclusion, UTIs are a common health problem that can affect anyone, but age, gender, and living conditions make a big difference in how serious they are. Women tend to get UTIs more often, but men, older adults, and pregnant women can also face serious 5 complications, especially if they don’t have easy access to healthcare. Things like not having clean water, safe menstrual products, or proper bathrooms can make infections more likely. Treating UTIs isn’t just about taking medicine, it also means learning about hygiene, having the right resources and supporting people in the community. By paying attention to both the medical and social side of the problem, we can help prevent infections and keep people healthier.

    References

    Biguenet, A., Slekovec, C., Bouiller, K., & Bertrand, X. (2025). Evaluation of antibiotic prescribing for the treatment of male community-acquired urinary tract infections using reimbursement data. PLoS One, 20(7), 12.

    Davis, C., & Rantell, A. (2017). Lower urinary tract infections in women. British Journal of Nursing, 26(9), S12–S19.

    Francois de Paul, S. K., Maise, H. C., & Moodley, J. (2016). Pregnant women admitted with urinary tract infections to a public sector hospital in South Africa: Are there lessons to learn? Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases, 31(3)

    Ganı̇ dağli, S., Öztürk, E., & Öztürk, Z. A. (2023). Recurrent lower urinary tract infections: more than an infection for older women. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 53(5), 1395–1403.

    Glayzer, E. J., Jennings, C. T., Schlaeger, J. M., Watkins, B., Rieseler, A., Ray, M., Lee, A., & Glayzer, J. E. (2024). Fighting for menstrual equity through period product pantries. Women’s Health, 20, Article 17455057241281459.

    Makusha, T. (2020). Sociological factors and urinary tract infections in informal 7 settlements. International Journal of Sociology of Health, 18(2). Retrieved from

    Miller, S. J., Carpenter, L., Taylor, S. L., Wesselingh, S. L., Choo, J. M., Shoubridge, A. P., Papanicolas, L. E., Rogers, G. B., Flynn, E., Gordon, D., Lynn, D. J., Whitehead, C., Leong, L. E. X., Crotty, M., & Inacio, M. (2024). Intestinal microbiology and urinary tract infection associated risk in long-term aged care residents. Communications Medicine, 4(1), 164. Pensulo, C. (2025, April 22).

    Winter, S. C., Obara, L. M., & McMahon, S. (2020). Intimate partner violence: A key correlate of women’s physical and mental health in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. PLoS ONE, 15(4), e0230894.


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