Prevalence of Vaginitis among Women Attending Antenatal Care Centre of Wudil General Hospital, Kano State Nigeria

Abstract

Vaginitis is usually caused by a change in the normal balance of vaginal microbes, an infection or reduced oestrogen levels after menopause leading to variety of infections by bacteria, fungi and viruses. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of vaginitis and its associated risk factors among women attending antenatal care center of Wudil general hospital, Kano Nigeria. A total of 352 High Vaginal Swab and serum samples were collected from women attending antenatal care centre of Wudil general hospital. The samples were processed and screened for the presence of Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis and Treponema pallidum through culture and microscopy and serum venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test. The risk factors were assessed using a designed questionnaire and analysed using Multivariate logistic modelling. The prevalence of C. albicans, T. vaginalis and Treponema pallidum were found to be 32.38%, 18.46 %, and 4.83%, respectively(p≤0.05). The result showed that the risk factors that are significantly associated with the prevalence of vaginitis were active sex age (26 – 30) years, educational status and number of participants husband’s wives. The study identifies that C. albicans is the major cause of vaginitis, and is insignificantly associated with active sex age educational status and number of participants husband’s wives. Keywords: Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis, Treponema pallidum, Pregnant Women