Risk Factors for Bacterial Vaginosis Incidence in Young Adult Thai Women

Abstract

To determine risk factors for incident bacterial vaginosis (BV) in young Thai women. Prospective data from a cohort of 1522 women aged 18 to 35 years, who were enrolled in a study of hormonal contraception and HIV acquisition, were used to evaluate potential risk factors for BV, as diagnosed by Amsel criteria. The median prevalence of BV from 3 to 24 months of follow-up visits was 2.5%. The BV incidence was 10.0 per 100-woman years. Statistically significant factors in multivariable analysis were sex during menstruation [hazard ratio (HR), 1.80; 95% CI, 1.11-2.92], male partners having sex with other women (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.45-2.98), cigarette smoking (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.08-2.98), and trichomoniasis (HR, 15.68; 95% CI, 4.95-49.68). Intravaginal practices were not associated with incident BV in unadjusted or adjusted analysis. This study supports the association between sexual behaviors and the incident BV. Failure to detect an association between intravaginal practices and incident BV warrants further studies in high-risk populations or in women with a higher prevalence of intravaginal practices.