Group B Streptococcus Colonization among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Tertiary Hospital in Rural Southwestern Uganda

Abstract

Objectives. This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with group B streptococcal anogenital colonization among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, a tertiary hospital. Methods. Cross-sectional study where 309 pregnant women ≥ thirty-five weeks of gestation attending antenatal clinic were consecutively recruited between January and March 2015. Anovaginal swabs were collected and tested qualitatively using rapid visual immunoassay GBS test kits for presence of GBS antigens. Data was analyzed using STATA version 12. In univariate analysis, GBS colonized mothers were presented as percentages and numbers, and in multivariate analysis logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the associations of exposure variable and GBS colonization; a value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results. Mothers' median age was 25 years, 14.6% mothers being obese. GBS prevalence was 28.8%, 95% CI: 23.7–33.9. Obesity was the only significant factor associated with anogenital GBS colonization with odds ratio of 3.78, 95% CI: 1.78–8.35, a p value of 0.001. Maternal ages, educational level, residence, and gravidity were not associated with GBS anogenital colonization. Conclusion. Group B streptococcal anogenital colonization among pregnant women attending antenatal care at tertiary hospital, in Southwestern Uganda, is high.

Group B streptococcus colonisation and associated risk factors among pregnant women: A hospital‐based study and implications for primary care

“…Increasing epidemiological studies have demonstrated the relationship between obesity and GBS colonisation in pregnant women, but current evidence is inconsistent. 7,8,26 When BMI was classified as ≤28 kg/m 2 and >28 kg/m 2 , obesity was associated with significantly increased rate of GBS colonisation in this study (OR = 3.79), which is consistent with the findings from Uganda and Washington State using the same cut-off for BMI classification. 7,8 When BMI was categorised into three groups (<18.5, 18.5-24.9, or ≥25 kg/m 2 ), significant differences were also found in this study.…”

“…7,8,26 When BMI was classified as ≤28 kg/m 2 and >28 kg/m 2 , obesity was associated with significantly increased rate of GBS colonisation in this study (OR = 3.79), which is consistent with the findings from Uganda and Washington State using the same cut-off for BMI classification. 7,8 When BMI was categorised into three groups (<18.5, 18.5-24.9, or ≥25 kg/m 2 ), significant differences were also found in this study. However, when using another binary variable of BMI (≤23 kg/m 2 vs >23 kg/m 2 ), no significant association was observed in our study but a significant negative association was observed in the Karachi study using the same cut-off.…”

“…In China, many studies have focused on assessing the prevalence of GBS colonisation in pregnant women, but risk factors for GBS colonisation have not been systematically studied. Increasing epidemiological studies have demonstrated the relationship between obesity and GBS colonisation in pregnant women, but current evidence is inconsistent . When BMI was classified as ≤28 kg/m 2 and >28 kg/m 2 , obesity was associated with significantly increased rate of GBS colonisation in this study (OR = 3.79), which is consistent with the findings from Uganda and Washington State using the same cut‐off for BMI classification .…”

“…Although prior studies revealed potential risk factors for GBS colonisation, such as obesity, parities, age and low education level, discordant results were reported and the effect sizes for identified risk factors varied considerably in different countries. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Therefore, risk factors should be thoroughly evaluated in every country, which may aid in selecting appropriate preventive strategy.…”

Prevalence and Determinants of Anogenital Colonization by Group B Streptococcus Infection Among HIV Positive and Negative Women in Calabar, Nigeria

“…However, much lower prevalence rate of 1.33% was reported in Uyo (19) and 6.6% was reported in Jos, Nigeria (20). On the contrary, higher prevalence rates of 14%, 28.8% and 21.61% have been reported in earlier studies in Zaria, Nigeria (21), Uganda (22) and South Africa (23), respectively. A study in the DRC reported overall colonization rate of 20% amongst pregnant women (12).…”