Prevalence and Risk Factors for Bacterial Vaginosis and Other Vulvovaginitis in a Population of Sexually Active Adolescents from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and genital candidiasis are considered the main etiologies of vulvovaginitis. Few studies estimate the prevalence of vulvovaginitis among adolescents, especially in Brazil. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and main risk factors associated with bacterial vaginosis and genital infection byC. albicansandTrichomonas vaginalisamong a group of adolescents from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. One hundred sexually active adolescents followed at an adolescent gynecology clinic were included. Endocervical and vaginal samples were obtained during gynecological examination. Nugent criteria were applied for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. ForCandida albicansandTrichomonas vaginalisdetection, culture in Sabouraud agar plates and Papanicolaou cytology were used, respectively. The mean age of participants was16.6±1.6years. The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 20% (95% CI 12–28) and of genital infection byCandidawas 22% (95% CI 14–30). Vaginal cytology detectedTrichomonas vaginalisin one patient. Alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use (P=0.02) and multiple lifetime partners were statistically related to bacterial vaginosis (P=0.01). The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and genital candidiasis was similar to other studies carried out among adolescents worldwide.