@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20241206.15,
  author = {Ekwi Damian Nsongmayi and Ambe Fabrice Ngwa and Ebong Serge Bruno and Lendem Isabelle and Edima-Durand Helene Carole and Ntemun Watard Emmanuela},
  title = {Gardnerella-associated Vaginosis Among Women of Child-Bearing Age Attending a Tertiary Hospital-Cameroon: Prevalence and Predicting Factors
},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {12},
  number = {6},
  pages = {193-203},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20241206.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20241206.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20241206.15},
  abstract = {Background: Gardnerella vaginalis being one of the major causes of bacterial vaginosis poses serious health problems by causing damage to the vaginal epithelial cells and disrupt the protective barrier of the mucosa, thereby increasing susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases, and complications during pregnancy. Objective: This descriptive cross-sectional study was aimed at determining the prevalence and predicting factors for the occurrence of Gardnerella-associated vaginosis among women of reproductive age attending a tertiary hospital in Cameroon. Methods: The study was performed on 200 women, randomly selected and of reproductive age, who attended the Buea Regional hospital from April to June 2024. A well-structured and pretested questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and clinical data from volunteers. Sterile swabs were used to collect vaginal samples which were inoculated on Colombia agar with 5% sheep infusion and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Gram staining, microscopy, biochemical testing and presence of Clue cells were used to identify Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS version 22.0 and Odd Ratios to determine the relationship among variables at a significance level PResults: Results showed that 124 cases were positive for Gardnerella vaginalis infection (62.0%). The mean age of participants was 25.15±0.731 years and patients between 16-25 years recorded the highest prevalence (39%) of Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Socioeconomically, unemployed participants showed the highest prevalence (65.3%), although the difference was not significant (P=0.49). Abnormal vaginal discharge was significantly (P=0.02) associated with the highest prevalence (75%) among other clinical parameters. This study revealed significant associations of the use of antiseptic soap while douching (OR: 4.92; 95% CI: 1.4–13.66; P=0.026), being sexually active (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.1-10.06; P=0.04), as well as diabetes (OR: 3.13; 95% CI: 1.99–9.43; P=0.041) and regular intake of anti-inflammatory drugs (OR: 4.01; 955 CI: 1.2-13.01; P=0.038), which strongly predicted occurrence of Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Conclusion: Mindful of the above analyses, it is important that women of reproductive age must be promptly checked for bacterial vaginosis and determine predicting factors for its occurrence, which will help policy makers to put in place appropriate preventive and treatment measures to curb complications during pregnancy and transmission of STDs.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Gardnerella-associated Vaginosis Among Women of Child-Bearing Age Attending a Tertiary Hospital-Cameroon: Prevalence and Predicting Factors

AU  - Ekwi Damian Nsongmayi
AU  - Ambe Fabrice Ngwa
AU  - Ebong Serge Bruno
AU  - Lendem Isabelle
AU  - Edima-Durand Helene Carole
AU  - Ntemun Watard Emmanuela
Y1  - 2024/11/21
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20241206.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20241206.15
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 193
EP  - 203
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20241206.15
AB  - Background: Gardnerella vaginalis being one of the major causes of bacterial vaginosis poses serious health problems by causing damage to the vaginal epithelial cells and disrupt the protective barrier of the mucosa, thereby increasing susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases, and complications during pregnancy. Objective: This descriptive cross-sectional study was aimed at determining the prevalence and predicting factors for the occurrence of Gardnerella-associated vaginosis among women of reproductive age attending a tertiary hospital in Cameroon. Methods: The study was performed on 200 women, randomly selected and of reproductive age, who attended the Buea Regional hospital from April to June 2024. A well-structured and pretested questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and clinical data from volunteers. Sterile swabs were used to collect vaginal samples which were inoculated on Colombia agar with 5% sheep infusion and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Gram staining, microscopy, biochemical testing and presence of Clue cells were used to identify Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS version 22.0 and Odd Ratios to determine the relationship among variables at a significance level PResults: Results showed that 124 cases were positive for Gardnerella vaginalis infection (62.0%). The mean age of participants was 25.15±0.731 years and patients between 16-25 years recorded the highest prevalence (39%) of Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Socioeconomically, unemployed participants showed the highest prevalence (65.3%), although the difference was not significant (P=0.49). Abnormal vaginal discharge was significantly (P=0.02) associated with the highest prevalence (75%) among other clinical parameters. This study revealed significant associations of the use of antiseptic soap while douching (OR: 4.92; 95% CI: 1.4–13.66; P=0.026), being sexually active (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.1-10.06; P=0.04), as well as diabetes (OR: 3.13; 95% CI: 1.99–9.43; P=0.041) and regular intake of anti-inflammatory drugs (OR: 4.01; 955 CI: 1.2-13.01; P=0.038), which strongly predicted occurrence of Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Conclusion: Mindful of the above analyses, it is important that women of reproductive age must be promptly checked for bacterial vaginosis and determine predicting factors for its occurrence, which will help policy makers to put in place appropriate preventive and treatment measures to curb complications during pregnancy and transmission of STDs.

VL  - 12
IS  - 6
ER  - 

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