Intravaginal practices: A potential route to genital infection

Abstract

Cultural beliefs and educational factors strongly lead women to perform intravaginal practices in sub Saharan Africa. Previous research has suggested that vaginal douching modifies vaginal flora and was associated with genital infections. The aim of our study was to evaluate the contribution of intravaginal practices in the acquisition of genital infections in women. This was a cross-sectional study. For bacterial vaginosis diagnosis, vaginal smears were heat-fixed and gram-stained then examined by light microscopy the results were interpreted by using a standardized method for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis, as described by Nugent. The mycological examination consisted of culturing on the CHROM agar Candida medium and Sabouraud chloramphenicol agar the vaginal swabs. 169 women were enrolled in this study. The majority of respondents were in the age group of 29-39 years (44%). The students were represented with a prevalence rate of 42.60%. Our results showed that 71% of women performed intravaginal practices and the most used vaginal practice is scraping the vaginal walls with the fingers (69.2%). University level women were mostly using these practices (55%) than secondary level women (30.8%) and primary level women (14.2%) with significant difference (P<0.05). The prevalence rate of vaginal candidiasis in female who did not perform intravaginal practices was higher (73.7%). Bacterial vaginosis was more common in women who performed intravaginal practices (76.6%). However, no significant association was found between intravaginal practices and the occurrence of vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis in the women (P>0.05). Women who performed intravaginal practices were more co-infected with vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis (20.72%) than women who did not (10.34%); but the difference was not significant (p> 0.05). Intravaginal practices may expose women to genital infections. Health education must be provided to women who performed intravaginal practices in order to reduce genital infections

Keywords: Intravaginal practices, vaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, women, Cameroon