title: Prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women with abnormal vaginal discharge in Maiduguri.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnancy represents a risk factor in the occurrence of vaginal candidiasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and clinical features associated with abnormal vaginal discharge and C. albicans infection in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  High vaginal swab samples and data on epidemiological characteristics were collected from 400 pregnant women with complaints of abnormal vaginal discharge at booking clinic of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. The data was analysed using SPSS 16.0 statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of abnormal vaginal discharge in pregnancy was 31.5%. The frequency of abnormal vaginal discharge was 183 (45.8%) among those aged 20-24 years, 291 (72.8%) in multipara, 223 (55.8%) in those with Primary education and 293 (73.2%) in unemployed. Vulval pruritus 300 (75.0%) was significantly related to abnormal vaginal discharge (P < 0.001). The prevalence of C. albicans was 41%. The frequencies of Vulval itching, Dyspareunia and vulval excoriation among those with candidiasis were 151 (50.3%), 14 (56.0%) and 75 (75.0%) respectively (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of abnormal vaginal discharge in pregnancy was high in this study and C. albicans was the commonest cause. It is recommended that a pregnant woman complaining of abnormal vaginal discharge be assessed and Laboratory diagnosis done in order to give appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. ozovehesan@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bukar
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yahaya
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Audu
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult