Abstract
BackgroundBacterial vaginosis is one of the most common genital tract infections among reproductive age group. The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis varies from country to country even in the same country it varies among populations of interest. Different social and sexual factors can contribute to the development of bacterial vaginosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and to identify the possible risk factors associated among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Tikur Anbessa University Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodsRandomly selected 57 symptomatic and 195 asymptomatic pregnant women aged between 18 and 40 years visiting obstetric and gynecological clinic from November 2011 to April 2012 screenedusing Gram stain Nugent scoring system. Statistical analysis like univariate analysis to calculate frequencies and proportions, bivariate analysis to see association of selected exposure variables with the outcome variable, and multivariate analysis to check the association of possible factors with bacterial vaginosis by adjusting potential confounding factors was calculated using SPSS (Version 16.0).ResultsThe prevalence of bacterial vaginosis is 19.4% using Gram stain Nugent scoring system. In addition, prevalence of bacterial vaginosis is 31.6% and 15.9% among symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women respectively. A high percentage of bacterial vaginosis positive pregnant women were asymptomatic (63.3%). 36.7% bacterial vaginosis positive pregnant women reported abnormal vaginal discharge with or without unpleasant smell. Multiple lifetime sexual partner (OR: 8.6; 95% CI: 2.5, 29) and previous history of spontaneous abortion (OR: 5.9; 95% CI: 1.5, 23) had remained significantly associated with prevalence of bacterial vaginosis.ConclusionThe prevalence of bacterial vaginosis is higher among asymptomatic pregnant women and associated with the factors previous history of multiple lifetime sexual partner and spontaneous abortion.
Highlights
Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common genital tract infections among reproductive age group
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a shift in the vaginal ecosystem characterized by an overgrowth of anaerobes, and a decrease in Lactobacillus resulting in degradation of the natural flora that helps keep the vaginal tissue healthy [1]
The methods of diagnosis used for diagnosis ofBV can have an effect on the variation of BV prevalence
Summary
Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common genital tract infections among reproductive age group. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a shift in the vaginal ecosystem characterized by an overgrowth of anaerobes, and a decrease in Lactobacillus resulting in degradation of the natural flora that helps keep the vaginal tissue healthy [1] It is a very common infection in women, and there is a lack of understanding regarding the triggers and factors for the onset and resolution of it [2]. The presence of bacterial vaginosis has consistently been shown to be a risk factor for adverse obstetric outcomes such as preterm labor and delivery, preterm premature rupture of membranes, spontaneous abortion, and postpartum infections such as endometritis and caesarean section wound infections [3,4,5] It increases the risk of HIV acquisition by approximately 60 percent; because BV increases HIV genital shedding with in discharge and results in increased concentration of HIV in genital secretions, which in turn facilitates both vertical and sexual HIV transmission [6,7,8]. It is difficult to evaluate all of these criteria for diagnosis of BV in busy practice; and it requires the ability of the gynecologist to analyze wet mount microscopy
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