Risk and protective factors associated with BV chronicity among women in Rakai, Uganda

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Sex Transm Infect
• Personal Author:
  Thoma, Marie E ; Brotman, Rebecca M ; Gray, Ronald H ; Sewankambo, Nelson K ; Wawer, Maria J
• Description:
  Objectives
  
  To assess risk and protective factors associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) chronicity ascertained by Nugent score criteria.
  
  Methods
  
  A longitudinal cohort study included 255 sexually experienced, postmenarcheal women who provided weekly self-collected vaginal swabs for up to 2 years. Vaginal swabs were scored using Nugent criteria and classified as normal (≤3), intermediate (4–6) and Nugent-BV (≥7). Detailed behavioural/health information were assessed every 6 months. A per-woman longitudinal summary measure of BV chronicity was defined as the percentage of each woman’s weekly vaginal assessments scored as Nugent-BV over a 6-month interval. Risk and protective factors associated with BV chronicity were assessed using multiple linear regression with generalised estimating equations.
  
  Results
  
  Average BV chronicity was 39% across all follow-up periods. After adjustment, factors associated with BV chronicity included baseline Nugent-BV (β=35.3, 95% CI 28.6 to 42.0) compared with normal baseline Nugent scores and use of unprotected water for bathing (ie, rainwater, pond, lake/stream) (β=12.0, 95% CI 3.4 to 20.5) compared with protected water sources (ie, well, tap, borehole). Women had fewer BV occurrences if they were currently pregnant (β=−6.6, 95% CI −12.1 to 1.1), reported consistent condom use (β=−7.7, 95% CI −14.2 to 1.3) or their partner was circumcised (β=−5.8, 95% CI −11.3 to 0.3).
  
  Conclusions
  
  Factors associated with higher and lower values of BV chronicity were multifactorial. Notably, higher values of BV chronicity were associated with potentially contaminated bathing water. Future studies should examine the role of waterborne microbial agents in the pathogenesis of BV.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Age Factors Chronic Disease Circumcision, Male Condoms Female Humans Hygiene Linear Models Longitudinal Studies Male Protective Factors Risk Factors Sexual Partners Vaginosis, Bacterial Water Supply Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  Sex Transm Infect. 96(5):380-386
• Pubmed ID:
  31601641
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC8162762
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  R01 AI047608/AI/NIAID NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01 AI119012/AI/NIAID NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R36 PS001104/PS/NCHHSTP CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R56 AG068673/AG/NIA NIH HHSUnited States/
• Place as Subject:
  Uganda
• Volume:
  96
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:167fe47c1682606c09f231db4579c2382ba20397a2e94d6f1c9fb8a568708d17
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/106693/cdc_106693_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 484.75 KB ]