PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AT JINJA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL, JINJA CITY.

Abstract

Background

For the good health of both the mother and the baby to be born, pregnant such should be free from disease and disease conditions including vulvovaginal candidiasis. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women attending Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Jinja City.

 Methods

A cross-sectional study was used and it employed closed-ended questionnaires which were divided into two sections A and B each corresponding to socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors associated with the prevalence of genital candidiasis. 

 Results

The overall prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women attending ANC at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, out of 79 pregnant women sampled, 20(25%)were positive for vaginal candidiasis was 25% among pregnant women, and the associated factors were using pit latrines (55.7%) were more affected with C. albicans compared to those using flush toilets (44.3%), those who were in the category of no changing of pants in a day were also more prone to infection (62%) than those that change(38%) this disagrees

 Conclusion

The overall prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women attending ANC at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, out of 79 pregnant women sampled, 20(25%) were positive for vaginal candidiasis and 59(75%) were negative for vaginal candidiasis. Therefore, the overall prevalence of vaginal candidiasis was 25% among pregnant women.

 Recommendations

All pregnant women despite of age, marital status, educational level, or religion should be encouraged to make visits for prompt tests, diagnosis, and treatment of vaginal candidiasis.