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Research article
Saravanan Muthupandian
Mekelle University College of Health Sciences
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1480-3555
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Bacterial vaginosis is the most common form of vaginitis which causes abnormal vaginal discharge in woman of childbearing age, which predispose to various gynecological and obstetric problems. In Africa sub-continent, the prevalence of BV among pregnant women is different among different countries. This review aimed to show the overall prevalence and to describe the different risk factors associated with BV among pregnant women in Africa.
Methods: PubMed, Medline, science direct, Google scholar and other relevant databases were searched from January 2008 to December 2018. Article retrieval and screening was done using standard procedural steps and strict inclusion/exclusion criteria. The total articles included in this review were 31 and cumulative prevalence was drawn from each country.
Results: This review addressed the prevalence of BV and its associated risk factors among pregnant women and its associated risk factors conducted in 31 eligible studies from 15 different countries of Africa, in which most of the studies were from Nigeria 22.6% (7/31), Kenya 16% (5/31) and Ethiopia 13% (4/31). Samples from a total of 19,354 pregnant women 4795 were positive for BV with the overall prevalence of 24.8% (4795/19,354), and the highest cumulative prevalence was reported from two studies conducted in more than two countries (1113/2349, 47.4%). Fifteen out of 31 articles or studies (48.4%) are significantly associated with different risk factors. Out of the 15 articles 33.3% (5/15) of the associated risk factors are HIV followed by age and previous BV/STI (20%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of BV among pregnant women was different in all regions of Africa with the pooled prevalence of 24.8%. HIV infected pregnant women and sexually active women (mostly in the age group of 20-30 years) were at high risk for BV and in some studies reported BV positive women are also at high risk of acquiring HIV infection.
Keywords
Bacterial Vaginosis, Prevalence, Pregnancy, Risk factor, and Africa
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This is a preprint. It has not completed peer review.
Research article
Saravanan Muthupandian
Mekelle University College of Health Sciences
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1480-3555
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 16 Apr, 2020
No community comments so far
Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Bacterial vaginosis is the most common form of vaginitis which causes abnormal vaginal discharge in woman of childbearing age, which predispose to various gynecological and obstetric problems. In Africa sub-continent, the prevalence of BV among pregnant women is different among different countries. This review aimed to show the overall prevalence and to describe the different risk factors associated with BV among pregnant women in Africa.
Methods: PubMed, Medline, science direct, Google scholar and other relevant databases were searched from January 2008 to December 2018. Article retrieval and screening was done using standard procedural steps and strict inclusion/exclusion criteria. The total articles included in this review were 31 and cumulative prevalence was drawn from each country.
Results: This review addressed the prevalence of BV and its associated risk factors among pregnant women and its associated risk factors conducted in 31 eligible studies from 15 different countries of Africa, in which most of the studies were from Nigeria 22.6% (7/31), Kenya 16% (5/31) and Ethiopia 13% (4/31). Samples from a total of 19,354 pregnant women 4795 were positive for BV with the overall prevalence of 24.8% (4795/19,354), and the highest cumulative prevalence was reported from two studies conducted in more than two countries (1113/2349, 47.4%). Fifteen out of 31 articles or studies (48.4%) are significantly associated with different risk factors. Out of the 15 articles 33.3% (5/15) of the associated risk factors are HIV followed by age and previous BV/STI (20%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of BV among pregnant women was different in all regions of Africa with the pooled prevalence of 24.8%. HIV infected pregnant women and sexually active women (mostly in the age group of 20-30 years) were at high risk for BV and in some studies reported BV positive women are also at high risk of acquiring HIV infection.
Figure 1
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