The Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Ecwa Evangel Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy when complicated leads to unfavourable outcome. Bacterial vaginosis is one of the conditions which leads to pregnancy complications such as abortions, preterm delivery and chorioamnionitis

Objective: To determined the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and associated risk factors among pregnant women seen in the antenatal clinic of the hospital in Jos.

Methods: This was a prospective study in which consented antenatal women were randomly recruited into the study between 1^st August and 31st December 1999. These women were carefully interviewed, examined and vaginal specimens taken for evaluation using Amsel's criteria . The data was coded and analyzed using EPI Info version 3.5.1.

Results : The age range was between 15 and 45 years. The mean age was 30 and modal age group was 25-29 years. About 40% (39.6%) of the women presented with vaginal discharge and 60% (60.4%) were asymptomatic. There were 92 out of 250 pregnant women (36.8%) that had three or more of the Amsel's criteria for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. The associated risk factors for developing bacterial vaginosis in the study population that were statistically significant included vaginal douching, new sexual partners and low family income.

Conclusion: BV is a public health problem. It is the commonest cause of vaginal discharge and infective vaginitis in developing countries. Both the asymptomatic and symptomatic forms of bacterial vaginosis were prevalent vaginal conditions among pregnant women.

Keywords: Vaginal Discharge, Bacterial Vaginosis, Pregnant Women.