Epidemilogical and microbiological correlates of bacterial vaginosis

Female population comprised of 544 with vaginitis and 258 asymptomatic were screened for presence of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, Gardnerella vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis. Bacterial vaginosis, diagnosed on the basis of clinical criteria and gram′s stained vaginal smear findings, was present in 50 percent of symptomatic cases and 21.8 percent of asymptomatic women. G. vaginalis, M. hominis and T. vaginalis were significantly associated with a diagnosis of BV. BV showed a positive correlation with lower socio-economic status and parity of more than 2. Prevalence of G. vaginalis was significantly higher among women who were ? 33 years of age, had been married for a shorter duration, gave history of intercourse in the preceding 48 hours and were of lower socio-economic status.