<i>Gardnerella</i>-associated Vaginosis Among Women of Child-Bearing Age Attending a Tertiary Hospital-Cameroon: Prevalence and Predicting Factors

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<i>Background: Gardnerella vaginalis</i> being one of the major causes of bacterial vaginosis poses serious health problems by causing damage to the vaginal epithelial cells and disrupt the protective barrier of the mucosa, thereby increasing susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases, and complications during pregnancy. <i>Objective:</i> This descriptive cross-sectional study was aimed at determining the prevalence and predicting factors for the occurrence of Gardnerella-associated vaginosis<i> </i>among women of reproductive age attending a tertiary hospital in Cameroon. <i>Methods:</i> The study was performed on 200 women, randomly selected and of reproductive age, who attended the Buea Regional hospital from April to June 2024. A well-structured and pretested questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and clinical data from volunteers. Sterile swabs were used to collect vaginal samples which were inoculated on Colombia agar with 5% sheep infusion and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Gram staining, microscopy, biochemical testing and presence of Clue cells were used to identify <i>Gardnerella vaginalis </i>infection. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS version 22.0 and Odd Ratios to determine the relationship among variables at a significance level P<0.05. <i>Results:</i> Results showed that 124 cases were positive for <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i> infection (62.0%). The mean age of participants was 25.15±0.731 years and patients between 16-25 years recorded the highest prevalence (39%) of <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i> infection. Socioeconomically, unemployed participants showed the highest prevalence (65.3%), although the difference was not significant (P=0.49). Abnormal vaginal discharge was significantly (P=0.02) associated with the highest prevalence (75%) among other clinical parameters. This study revealed significant associations of the use of antiseptic soap while douching (OR: 4.92; 95% CI: 1.4–13.66; P=0.026), being sexually active (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.1-10.06; P=0.04), as well as diabetes (OR: 3.13; 95% CI: 1.99–9.43; P=0.041) and regular intake of anti-inflammatory drugs (OR: 4.01; 955 CI: 1.2-13.01; P=0.038), which strongly predicted occurrence of<i> Gardnerella vaginalis</i> infection. <i>Conclusion:</i> Mindful of the above analyses, it is important that women of reproductive age must be promptly checked for bacterial vaginosis and determine predicting factors for its occurrence, which will help policy makers to put in place appropriate preventive and treatment measures to curb complications during pregnancy and transmission of STDs.