Abstract
UTIs (urinary tract infection) are one of the most prevalent bacterial infections in females around the globe in addition to being a major health issue in the developing world like Pakistan. The objectives of the cross-sectional study were to find out the prevalence of UTIs and the risk factors among female populations in Faisalabad in the year 2025. 200 females accessing outpatient healthcare structures were recruited, and data on demographic information, personal hygiene behaviours, urinary problems, sexual activity, and medical histories were gathered using structured questionnaires. The urine samples (midstream) were collected aseptically and standard microscopy, culture and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were used to analyse the samples. The findings revealed that 57.5% of the respondents had culture confirmed UTIs. The most common pathogen was Escherichia coli (68%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (14%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (10%), and Proteus mirabilis (8%). Women in the 21–35 year age group, sexual active women, and those who were multiparous were found to have higher prevalence rates. The major risk factors identified were low water consumption, poor personal hygiene, delayed urination, shared bathrooms and improper use of antibiotics. They were mainly acute uncomplicated UTIs (most cases), and 9% were recurrent infections. The study identifies a significant UTIs burden among women in Faisalabad and the necessity to improve the level of hygiene awareness, rational use of antibiotics, and timely diagnostic interventions to minimize morbidity and the rate of recurrence.