Comparison and Association between Different Types of Vaginitis and Risk Factors among Reproductive Aged Women in Lahore, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Mixed vaginitis is escalating worldwide and complicates the diagnosis and treatment of vaginitis. Several risk factors have been associated with prevalence of vaginitis. Prevalence and associated risk factors of different types of vaginitis especially, aerobic vaginitis (AV) are less known. A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the prevalence and association among different types of vaginitis and risk factors in reproductive aged women (n=300) visiting Jinnah Hospital, Lahore for complaints of vaginal discharge. Data on risk factors was collected through face-to-face interviews. Vaginal swabs were examined using microbiological techniques. Data were analyzed using different tests of descriptive statistics. Prevalence of AV, bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomonas vaginitis (TV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) was 75%, 59.7%, 13.7% and 49.7% respectively. Major pathogens included Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans. Overall, 77.67% patients had mixed vaginitis, whereas co-occurrence of AV with BV was the highest. AV and BV were associated with history of miscarriages while TV with unawareness and low socioeconomic conditions. In culmination, AV is the predominant cause of vaginitis, followed by BV, VVC and TV. Miscarriages predispose women to AV and BV, whereas ignorance and poverty are the primary causes of TV.