Prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in selected hospitals within Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by Candida species mostly Candida albicans. Symptoms of this infection include vaginal itching, irritation of the vulva and vagina, discharge and burning sensation around the genito- urinary tract of infected individuals. This study was conducted to detect and determine the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis in pregnant women attending antenatal care in selected hospitals within Gusau, Zamfara state, Nigeria. Vaginal swab samples of 300 pregnant women aged between 15 and 40 years were collected and mycologically analysed using standard microbiological procedures for the detection of Candida albicans usually implicated in cases of vaginitis. Out of the 300 vaginal swab samples analysed, 65 (21.67%) were found to be positive. Women aged 26- 30 had the highest percentage distribution of C. albicans. Distribution of the organism was observed to be least among those aged 36-40. The study underscores the need to periodically determine the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women so that adequate measures can be put in place to forestall any negative effect of such infection on the mother and unborn child.