Sociodemographic Characteristics and Aetiological Factors of Vaginal Discharge in Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: This is a study on the aetiology of vaginal discharge among pregnant women in Kano, Northern Nigeria. Method: This longitudinal descriptive study was conducted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria, between 1^st January 2004 and 31^st December 2004. The pregnant women who had vaginal discharge among those who attended the antenatal clinic during the period of study were recruited. Results: The prevalence of vaginal discharge in pregnancy in Kano, Northern Nigeria, was 1 in 20 antenatal patients. Infective vaginal discharge occurs with similar frequency to that of non-infective origin. The prevalence of infective vaginal discharge was found to decrease with increasing age, parity and Western education, and increased among patients who had Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. Conclusion: We recommend close surveillance among high risk patients, and also the aetiology of vaginal discharge should be determined, so that appropriate treatment can be offered in order to prevent avoidable feto-maternal morbidity and mortality from erroneous empirical treatment.

Key words: Vaginal discharge, aetiological factors, empirical treatment, pregnancy.