Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis due to Gardnerella species, vaginal candidiasis and trichomoniasis: Epidemiological aspect in women and adolescent girls in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract

Vaginal infections are a health problem due to their high frequency in our healthcare facilities. The objective of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis due to the Gardnerella species and trichomoniasis, and study the associated risk factors among women and adolescents in the city of Yaoundé.Trichomonas vaginalis was identified by searching for a viable trophozoite by spreading leucorrhoea between slide and slide cover in physiological water. Candida species was found by culture on Sabouraud Chloramphenicol agar. Bacterial vaginosis was revealed according to the Thomasson classification. Gardnerella species was identified by Gram stain.The finding were: 52.37% of women had vaginal infections. Bacterial vaginosis had a prevalence of 32.92% and gardnerellosis represented 20.66% of vaginal infections, while candidiasis amounted to 16.66%. 0.79% of women suffered from trichomoniasis. The population most affected by bacterial vaginosis due to Gardnerella species was between 25 and 34 years old (13.49%).. University level women and adolescents girls were more exposed to bacterial vaginosis due to Gardnerella species (15.87%) than high school level women and adolescents girls (3.18% and 2.38% respectively). Further studies on a larger sample of patients are required to further appreciate the epidemiology of vaginal infections.