title: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, North-West Nigeria: Hospital-Based Epidemiological Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) remains a common problem worldwide and the role of douching as a predisposing factor is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to highlight the prevalence and predisposing factors of VVC in North-west Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study done at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), North-west. AKTH is a 500-bed tertiary hospital located in Kano, the most populous state in Nigeria. Ethical clearance was obtained. Three hundred patients with VVC were recruited from the gynecologic and general outpatients' clinics of AKTH. Research structured questionnaires were used to obtain sociodemographic and clinical information. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago IL, USA). Frequency, mean and simple percentages were used to analyze data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Candida albicans was the most frequent cause of the positive high vaginal swabs constituting 84.5% (316/374) while Proteus vulgaris was the least frequent cause constituting 0.53% (2/374). Fifty-three percent (143/270) of those with VVC were aged 26-35 years; the married were 80% (216/270) and those who were unmarried were 20% (54/270). Douching was the commonest predisposing factor occurring in 42.5% (115/270) of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VVC was the most prevalent cause of vaginosis in North-west Nigeria, and douching was the commonest predisposing factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ugwa
keywords: Epidemiology; Hospital; Nigeria; North-west; Vulvovaginal candidiasis