Prevalence of candidiasis in non-pregnant women attending Yusuf Dantsoho memorial hospital in Kaduna state Nigeria

Abstract

There have been frequent cases of candidiasis among women in Nigeria. The prevalence of candidiasis among non -pregnant women attending Yusuf Dantsoho memorial hospital in Kaduna State, Nigeria was investigated. High vaginal swabs, endo cervical and intra cervical swabs were collected from sixty (60) non-pregnant women. All samples were screened for Candida albicans using culture microscopy, germ tube and sugar fermentation tests. The study revealed that out of the sixty (60) non-pregnant women sampled, thirty five (35) were found to be positive for candidiasis indicating a prevalence rate of 58.3% in the study area. The pregnant women aged 24 to 29 recorded the highest prevalence (26.7 %) which is statistically significant (p < 0.05) and an indication that candidiasis is becoming more prevalent among non -pregnant women in this age group. The implication of this result in the light of the prevalence rate is discussed.Key words: Candidiasis, prevalence, non- pregnant women, vaginal and cervical swabs.