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Aim: To identify socioeconomic and urban-rural variations in self-reported lifetime prevalence of symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STI).

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Bangladesh Adolescents Survey 2005 conducted on 11,986 adolescents, using a cluster sampling methods. Data were analysed using SPSS applying principle components analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, and prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: Self-reported lifetime prevalence of STI symptoms was 11.6%. Urban adolescents had 11% lower prevalence than their rural counterparts (PR(U/R) = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.79-1.00). Probability of self-reported lifetime symptoms of STI was highest among 20-24 years old income-generating male educated workers of mid-socioeconomic status living in rural areas (0.31).

Conclusions: The residence (urban-rural) factor is more influential than the socioeconomic factor. Simpler and cheaper mode of screening and case finding tools for STIs would greatly help. Health promotion and education programs can decrease the adolescents' vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases. © 2014 Gani et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.