Infectious vaginitis among women seeking reproductive health services at a sexual and reproductive health facility in Kampala, Uganda

BMC Womens Health. 2023 Dec 19;23(1):677. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02835-w.

Abstract

Background: Infectious vaginitis is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting women of reproductive age with significant clinical consequences. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvo-vaginal candidiasis (VVC), and trichomoniasis (TV) are the main etiologies. Unfortunately, there is limited data on the prevalence and associated risk factors, especially in sub-saharan Africa. This study, thus, determined the prevalence and risk factors of infectious vaginitis among women seeking reproductive health services at a Marie-stopes health facility in urban areas of Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 361 participants was conducted from July to October 2021. Data on risk factors and infection were collected via a structured questionnaire and laboratory analysis of vaginal swabs, respectively, with data analysis performed using Stata version 14.0 college station, Texas 77,845 US.

Results: The ages of participants ranged from 18 to 49 years, with a mean age of 29.53 years. Overall, 58.45% were infected, of whom 33.24% had VVC, 24.93% had BV, and 0.28% had TV. Bivariate analysis revealed that women with pruritus (COR: 3.057, 95% CI: 1.940-4.819), pregnancy (COR: 4.914, 95% CI: 1.248-19.36), antibiotic use (COR: 1.592, 95% CI: 1.016-2.494), douching (COR: 1.719, 95% CI: 1.079-2.740), and multiple partners (COR: 1.844, 95% CI: 1.079-2.904) were more likely to have VVC, whereas having higher education status (University; Vocational) (COR: 0.325, 95% CI: 0.134-0.890; COR: 0.345, 95% CI: 0.116-0.905) reduced the risk. On the other hand, women with a smelly discharge (COR: 1.796, 95% CI: 1.036-3.110), IUD use (COR: 1.868, 95% CI: 1.039-3.358), and antibiotic use (COR: 1.731, 95% CI: 1.066-2.811) were more likely to have BV. Multivariable analysis identified pruritus (AOR: 2.861, 95% CI: 1.684-4.863) as the only independent predictor for VVC.

Conclusion: Results indicate a high prevalence of infection among these women; therefore regular screening and treatment is recommended to curb the high rate of infection. More studies on risk factors of infection are recommended.

Keywords: Bacterial vaginosis; Kampala; Pruritus; Trichomoniasis; Uganda; Vulvo-vaginal candidiasis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal* / drug therapy
  • Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal* / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Facilities
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Prevalence
  • Pruritus / drug therapy
  • Reproductive Health
  • Reproductive Health Services*
  • Trichomonas Vaginitis* / diagnosis
  • Trichomonas Vaginitis* / epidemiology
  • Uganda / epidemiology
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial* / diagnosis
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents