Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis among HIV-Positive Women in Machakos County Hospital, Kenya
Published: 2021-03-09
Page: 28-34
Issue: 2021 - Volume 4 [Issue 1]
Mutuku Onesmus Muia
*
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Kenyatta University, P.O.Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Scholastica Gatwiri Mathenge
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Kenyatta University, P.O.Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Wachuka Gathigia Njoroge
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Kenyatta University, P.O.Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Titus Kamau Karuga
Machakos Cancer Care and Research Centre, Machakos Level 5 Hospital, P.O.Box 19-90100, Machakos, Kenya.
Kyama Cleophas Mutinda
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O.Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common infection in women during their reproductive age. However, the burden of BV among HIV-positive women in Kenya is not clear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of BV in HIV-positive women visiting the comprehensive care center in Machakos county hospital, Kenya.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Machakos County Hospital Comprehensive Care Centre and Machakos Cancer Care and Research Centre, between August 2020 and December 2020.
Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study at Machakos county hospital in Kenya by enrolling 400 women who were HIV-positive and attending the comprehensive care center at the facility. Convenience sampling was used to select the study participants. Cytological samples obtained using a cytobrush were processed using manual liquid based cytology technique. All smears were stained using the Papanicolaou staining method and examined microscopically for the presence of clue cells. A Chi-square test was performed to evaluate the association between BV and the demographic variables.
Results: Out of the 400 participants enrolled in this study, 41 (10.3%) had BV. The age groups 30-39 years (n=14, 34.1%) and 40-49 years (n=14, 34.1%) had the highest BV burden. Based on marital status, married women had the highest cases of BV (n=18, 43.9%) while divorced women had the least cases of BV (n=4, 9.8%). Women who used condom as the method of family planning showed to have the highest cases of BV (n=18, 43.9%). Of all the variables studied, only age had a statistically significant association with BV (P=0.002).
Conclusion: The prevalence of BV among HIV-positive women in Machakos county hospital, Kenya in this study was 10.3%. Age and BV were significantly associated.
Keywords: Age, bacterial vaginosis, cervical cytology, HIV-positive women, pap smear.