Etiological profile and risk factors of vulvovaginitis among women of reproductive age in a tertiary care hospital in northern India

Agarwal S, Jafar H, Tiwari S, Prakash V

Pdf Page Numbers :- 177-182

Saumya Agarwal¹, Haniya Jafar^1,*, Shubhangi Tiwari₂ and Ved Prakash¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243006, India

²Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Rohilkhand College of Paramedical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243006, India

*Corresponding author: Dr. Haniya Jafar, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243006, India. Email: haniya.jafar11@gmail.com

Received 7 January 2025; Revised 28 February 2025; Accepted 10 March 2025; Published 18 March 2025

Citation: Agarwal S, Jafar H, Tiwari S, Prakash V. Etiological profile and risk factors of vulvovaginitis among women of reproductive age in a tertiary care hospital in northern India. J Med Sci Res. 2025; 13(2):177-182. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17727/JMSR.2024/13-31

Copyright: © 2025 Agarwal S et al. Published by KIMS Foundation and Research Center. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Abstract

Background: Vulvovaginitis is a common condition affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by vaginal discharge, itching, and discomfort. It can be caused by bacterial, fungal, or protozoal infections. Despite its high prevalence, vulvovaginitis often remains under-reported in India due to social stigma and lack of awareness. Accurate identification of the etiological agents and associated risk factors is essential for planning effective treatment and prevention strategies. This study aimed to identify the causative agents of vulvovaginitis and evaluate associated risk factors among women attending a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to June 2024 at Rohilkhand Medical College, Bareilly. A total of 150 women of reproductive age presenting with symptoms of vaginitis were enrolled. Two high vaginal swabs were collected from each participant for microbiological analysis, including Gram staining, wet mount, KOH mount, whiff test, Nugent scoring, and culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar.

Results: Most participants were aged between 21 and 40 years (74.66%), with vaginal discharge reported in all cases (100%). A microbiological diagnosis was established in 48% of cases. Bacterial vaginosis (29.3%) was the most common infection, followed by vulvovaginal candidiasis (18%) and trichomoniasis (0.6%). A significant association was found between bacterial vaginosis and factors such as poor hygiene, menstrual irregularities, and prior antibiotic use. Vulvovaginal candidiasis showed a statistically significant association with diabetes, previous antibiotic intake, and contraceptive use.

Conclusion: Bacterial vaginosis emerged as the most frequent cause of vulvovaginitis. Early diagnosis, improved awareness, and education on personal hygiene are essential to reduce disease burden and prevent complications like recurrent infections and infertility.

Keywords: bacterial vaginosis; trichomonas vaginitis; vaginal discharge; vaginitis; vulvovaginal candidiasis