International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Sowole RO, Adegbite AA, Okemakin FY, Sowemimo RO

Abstract
The study was carried out to assess the incidences of Bacterial Vaginosis among the pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics, State Hospital Ijebu-Ode Southwestern Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine the incidence of bacterial vaginosis among the pregnant women, the distribution of infection during the dry and wet seasons and determine the relationship between the infection incidence and hygiene practices in the study area. a total number of fifty (50) pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics complaining of vagina itching had two set of swab samples collected during the dry and wet seasons of 2014. After the collection of these swab samples, structured questionnaires were administered to the pregnant women each with their responses matched with their swab results that were examined microscopically using the wet examination method, culturing the samples and some biochemical tests for the detection and confirmation of bacteria vaginosis infections. The results showed that twenty four (24) and thirty five (35) swabs tested positive during dry and wet season, with three common abnormal bacteria floral detected, (11) (46%) positive with Staphylococcus aureus, 3(13%) Proteus spp and 10(42%) Candida albican while (13) (37%) positive with Staphylococcus aureus, (5)(14%) Proteus spp, and (17) (49%) infected with Candida albican, during dry and wet season respectively. Furthermore, poor hygiene practices that might have caused the infections was sharing of sanitary facilities without considering cleanliness, wearing of wet pants/underwear and not changing of the dirty pants/underwear, and unfortunately using of local herbs/concoctions to wash and cleanse their practices as traditional beliefs to safeguard and safe delivery of unborn babies. The study concluded that there is need for health and hygiene education during ante natal programme for the pregnant women, designed to teach them about the cause, prevention and management of the vaginal infections and discourage and abuse their minds on the effects of harmful medical practices during pregnancy Based on the results of the study a number of possible policy recommendations that would enhance the preventives and control measure of the infections involving all the stakeholders like community leaders, traditionalists, herbalists and the husbands should be put in place.