Risk factors for bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy among African American women.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to examine risk factors for bacterial vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy among African American women.


METHODS
As part of a study of preterm birth, African American women residing in Baltimore, MD, were recruited from prenatal care sites. Women enrolled prenatally (between 22 and 28 weeks' gestation) were asked to provide a vaginal smear specimen for ascertainment of BV. Log-binomial analysis was utilized.


RESULTS
Approximately one quarter of the women were identified with BV (110 of 438). After adjusting for several confounders, vaginal douching during pregnancy remained significantly associated with an increased likelihood of BV. In addition, greater frequency of intercourse during the first trimester of pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of BV. None of the social or psychosocial factors examined were associated with BV.


CONCLUSIONS
Douching and sexual activity were associated with an increased risk of BV in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Trabert
Britton
B
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA. brittont@u.washington.edu
Misra
Dawn P
DP
D001741:Black or African American; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D003075:Coitus; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000208:ethnology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012307:Risk Factors; D044364:Vaginal Douching; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000208:ethnology*