Bacterial vaginosis among women at high risk for HIV in Uganda: high rate of recurrent diagnosis despite treatment
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sexually transmitted infections
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with
increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
and HIV acquisition. This study describes the
epidemiology of BV in a cohort of women at high risk
for STI/HIV in Uganda over 2 years of follow-up between
2008–2011.
Methods 1027 sex workers or bar workers were
enrolled and asked to attend 3-monthly follow-up visits.
Factors associated with prevalent BV were analysed
using multivariate random-effects logistic regression. The
effect of treatment on subsequent episodes of BV was
evaluated with survival analysis.
Results Prevalences of BV and HIV at enrolment were
56% (573/1027) and 37% (382/1027), respectively.
Overall, 905 (88%) women tested positive for BV at
least once in the study, over a median of four visits.
Younger age, a higher number of previous sexual
partners and current alcohol use were independently
associated with prevalent BV. BV was associated with
STIs, including HIV. Hormonal contraception and condom
use were protective against BV. Among 853 treated BV
cases, 72% tested positive again within 3 months. There
was no difference in time to subsequent BV diagnosis
between treated and untreated women.
Conclusions BV was highly prevalent and persistent in
this cohort despite treatment. More effective treatment
strategies are urgently needed.
Description
Keywords
Bacterial vaginosis, Women, HIV, Uganda
Citation
Francis, SC, Looker, C., Vandepitte, J., Bukenya, J., Mayanja, Y., Nakubulwa, S., ... & Grosskurth, H. (2016). Bacterial vaginosis among women at high risk for HIV in Uganda: high rate of recurrent diagnosis despite treatment. Sexually transmitted infections , 92 (2), 142-148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ sextrans-2015-052160