Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis among women in Delhi, India

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginal discharge among women in reproductive age. Surveillance studies on bacterial vaginosis are mostly based on specialist clinic settings. As few population-based prevalence surveys of bacterial vaginosis have been conducted, we studied the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in the urban and rural communities in Delhi, and to associate the presence of bacterial vaginosis with demographic profile, risk factors and presence of other reproductive tract infections (RTIs)/ sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Vaginal specimens for Gram-stain evaluation of vaginal flora for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis and culture of Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida spp, blood samples for HIV and syphilis serology, and urine for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis were collected from women (15-49 yr) from rural and urban areas. Information on demographic characteristics, risk factors and clinical symptoms was obtained.

Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 70 (32.8%) subjects. A high percentage though asymptomatic (31.2%) were found to have bacterial vaginosis. Highest prevalence was seen in urban slum (38.6%) followed by rural (28.8%) and urban middle class community (25.4%). All women with vaginal trichomoniasis were found to have bacterial vaginosis while 50 per cent of subjects having syphilis also had bacterial vaginosis..

The study showed high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis. The asymptomatic women having bacterial vaginosis are less likely to seek treatment for the morbidity and thus are more likely to acquire other STIs. Women attending various healthcare facilities should be screened and treated for bacterial vaginosis to reduce the risk of acquisition of other STIs.