Risk factors for bacterial vaginosis among bar and hotel workers in Northern Tanzania
Kapiga, S.H.; Sam, N.E.; Masenga, E.J.; Manongi, R.; Shao, J.F.
East African Medical Journal 82(2): 85-91
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 16122097 Document Number: 263271
Objective: To determine risk factors for bacterial vaginosis (BV) among women working in bars and hotels in Moshi, Northern Tanzania. Results: Severe disturbances of vaginal flora or BV were detected in 70 of 268 (26.1%) women (95% confidence interval, CI: 20.8-31.4%). In multivariate analyses, religion was the only sociodemographic characteristic that remained significantly associated with BV. Other independent predictors of BV were Trichomonas vaginalis (adjusted odds ratio, OR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.3), Chlamydia trachomatis (adjusted OR=3.5, 95% CI: 1.2-10.6), syphilis (adjusted OR=7.1, 95% CI: 41.1-4.7) and herpes simplex virus type 2 infection (adjusted OR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.0-3.3). Conclusion: BV is the common cause of genital symptoms in the study population. Since sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are strongly associated with BV, control of STDs and BV should be given the highest priority in this population.