COMPLICATIONS OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS IN PREGNANCY

Objective: Bacterial vaginosis is one of the common causes of vaginal discharge in women. It has been suggested that risks of preterm labour, abortion and premature rupture of membrane (PROM) are higher in pregnancies that are affected by bacterial vaginosis. This study was designed to determine the incidence of bacterial vaginosis and its relationship with abortion, preterm labor, intra uterine fetal death (IUFD) and premature rupture of membranes. Methodology: This was a historical cohort study done in 2006. The exposure group involved 136 women who had bacterial vaginosis diagnosed before 20th week of gestation and 397 pregnant women without bacterial vaginosis as non exposure group. The relationship between preterm labor, abortion, intra uterine fetal death and premature rapture of membranes with bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy was determined. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 11 software. Chi-square test was applied for statistical comparisons and Fisher exact test and Yates correction were implemented whenever appropriate. Significance was assumed as P < 0.05. Results: The incidence for abortion, intra uterine fetal death, preterm labor and premature rupture of membrane were 1.3%, 0.9%, 3.6%, 1.3% respectively. There was no statistical relationship between bacterial vaginosis and abortion but the relationship between bacterial vaginosis and intra uterine fetal death, preterm labor and premature rupture of membrane was significant (p<0/001). Conclusion: Findings of the study indicate that rates of intra uterine fetal death, preterm labor and premature rupture of membrane were higher in women who had bacterial vaginosis compared with those who did not.