Prevalence and risk factors for reproductive tract infections among women in rural Vietnam

Vivian F. Go, Vu Minh Quan, David D. Celentano, Lawrence H. Moulton, Jonathan M. Zenilman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate prevalence and risk factors of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among women in Haiphong, Vietnam. In October 1998, 197 women aged 18-49 were recruited into a community-based, cross-sectional study. Of the 197 women, 95 (49.5%) were diagnosed with ≥1 endogenous reproductive tract infections (RTI) and 7 (3.6%) with ≥1 sexually transmitted disease (STD). In three separate multivariate analyses, age <30 years (OR = 2.5; 95% Cl = 1.1, 5.8), residential mobility (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.1, 4.9), self reported genital itch/ discharge (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.1, 4.1), and reported belief that RTI symptoms were shameful (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.2, 5.0) were associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV); low education was associated with Candida (OR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.0, 6.7); ≥1 abortion was associated with ≥1 STD (OR = 9.2; 95% CI = 1.1, 427). The prevalence of STDs was low but the prevalence of endogenous infections was high. Abortion is a proxy for other factors, such as high risk sexual behavior in either the woman or her partner. Given the low prevalence STD in this area of Vietnam, clinical case management of women presenting with RTI symptoms should focus on treatment of the more common endogenous infections, candida and BV.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)185-189
Number of pages5
JournalSoutheast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
Volume37
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jan 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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