Multiple sexually transmitted co-infections are associated with adverse reproductive outcomes in asymptomatic adolescent pregnant women; A Prospective cohort study

Kirti Wasnik; Pratima Mittal; Priti Ghope; Subash C Sonkar; Geetika Arora; Daman Saluja

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.1046233

Multiple sexually transmitted co-infections are associated with adverse reproductive outcomes in asymptomatic adolescent pregnant women; A Prospective cohort study

Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Nov 17:9:1046233. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1046233. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Kirti Wasnik¹, Pratima Mittal², Priti Ghope², Subash C Sonkar^{1

2

3}, Geetika Arora^{1

3}, Daman Saluja^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
³ Delhi School of Public Health, Institute of Imminence, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.

Abstract

Background: A prospective cohort was conducted to assess the prevalence of seven RTIs/STIs in adolescent asymptomatic pregnant women to find a significant correlation between infection and pregnancy.

Methods: The study was restricted to 18-19 years of asymptomatic adolescent pregnant women attending Ante-Natal Care and the health status of the pregnant women were followed up to parturition. The health status of the infant was followed till 6 months post-delivery. The prevalence of the concerning pathogens and the significance of their association with adverse outcomes of pregnancy were determined.

Results: Among 279 subjects, the most significant co-infections were observed for M. hominis with U. parvum (9.31%; p-value-0.0071/OR-2.6421) and U. urealyticum (7.88%; p-value-0.0119/OR-2.6455). Statistically significant associations were found between C. trachomatis [(p-value-0.0439); OR-2.9902] and M. genitalium [(p-value-0.0284); OR-3.442] with PTB, N. gonorrhoeae with LBW <2.5 kg [(p-value-0.0052);OR-4.9017], U. urealyticum with VLBW <2 kg [(p-value-0.0262);OR-3.0207], M. genitalium [(p-value-0.0184); OR-11.7976] and T. vaginalis with PROM [(p-value 0.0063); OR-19.4275] while M. genitalium [(p-value 0.0190); OR-12.9230] and U. urealyticum [(p-value 0.0063); OR-14.5149] with PPROM with 95% CI respectively.

Conclusions: Asymptomatic adolescents are at high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes if infected with the concerned pathogens.

Keywords: STI co-infections; adolescent pregnancy; adverse birth outcomes; asymptomatic adolescent pregnant women; pregnancy infections; premature rupture of membranes (PROM); preterm birth (PTB); preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).