title: 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 by C. albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis among 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. For Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis detection, culture in Sabouraud agar plates and Papanicolaou cytology were used, respectively. The mean age of participants was 16.6 ± 1.6 years. The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 20% (95% CI 12-28) and of genital infection by Candida was 22% (95% CI 14-30). Vaginal cytology detected Trichomonas vaginalis in 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, BA, Brazil. rita@conveniado.bahia.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Rita Elizabeth Moreira
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mascarenhas
authors.forename: Márcia Sacramento Cunha
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Bruno Fernando Borges da
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Costa e Silva
authors.forename: Rodrigo Fernandes Weyll
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.forename: Tatiana Teixeira
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Fernanda Maria Silva
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda Rios
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Grassi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*