Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in antenatal clinic attenders at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)

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2000-02-01
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The prevalence and microbial aetiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in pregnant women (PW) attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) was studied. A randomly selected sample of PW was invited to participate at their first ANC visit. They were interviewed using a structured questionnaire (Appendix F) and underwent genital examination. Genital swabs were obtained for microscopy and/or culture for the isolation of Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoea. Blood was obtained for serological testing for syphilis and for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg). A total of 220 PW aged 15 to 38 years were seen. Majority of the respondents 71, (32.3%) belonged to the age group 25 - 29 years... Twenty (9.1%) of the pregnant women (PW) were in the age group 15-19 years. The median age was 27 years. Parity of the study group ranged from 0 to 8 children. Eighty-two (37.3%) of the respondents were primigravidae and 122 (55.4%) were multigravidae. Fifty-five (25.0%) were housewives/unemployed. Majority were traders (30.5%). One hundred and ten (50%) of the respondents started attending ANC during their second trimester. Only 36.8% (81) started attending ANC during their first trimester. A substantial majority of the respondents 49.1% (108) have had 7 — 9 years of education i.e. up to Junior Secondary School or Middle School level. With respect to marital status, most of the subjects 158 (71.8%) were monogamously married. Prevalence of syphilis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhoea, HIV infection and hepatitis B were 2.7%, 20.9%, 10.5%, 5% and 13.6% respectively. One hundred and fifteen (52.3%) of the PW had at least one STI. Twenty nine (13.18%) of the PW had one or more STI. Multiple STIs were more frequent in the 20 - 24 and 25 - 29 year groups. None of the PW in the 15-19 years was HIV infected. Only one person had genital or vulval warts (clinical human papilloma virus (HPV)). There was a low prevalence of STIs in PW who were married monogamously (p < 0.05). Of the 151 PW who had genital infections, 116 (76.85%) were symptomatic. Apart from the 15-19 year age group, (p < 0.01) none of the socio-demographic variables, i.e. marital status, educational level and occupational status was significantly associated with STI (p> 0.05). This study has shown that the prevalence of STIs is high in PW, especially in those married polygamously. It is recommended that all PW in Ghana are given the needed treatment when attending ANC to protect them and their foetuses from the effects of STI.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Science Degree in Clinical Microbiology, 2000
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