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. 2014 Aug;25(9):669-75.
doi: 10.1177/0956462413516300. Epub 2013 Dec 18.

The aetiology of vaginal symptoms in rural Haiti

Claire C Bristow  1 , Tania Desgrottes  2 , Lauren Cutler  2 , David Cutler  3 , Karthika Devarajan  2 , Oksana Ocheretina  4 , Jean William Pape  4 , Jeffrey D Klausner  3
Affiliations

The aetiology of vaginal symptoms in rural Haiti

Claire C Bristow et al. Int J STD AIDS. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Vaginal symptoms are a common chief complaint amongst women visiting outpatient clinics in rural Haiti. A systematic sample of 206 consecutive women over age 18 with gynaecological symptoms underwent gynaecologic examination and laboratory testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV infection, trichomoniasis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis. Among 206 women, 174 (84%) presented with vaginal discharge, 165 (80%) with vaginal itching, 123 (60%) with vaginal pain or dysuria, and 18 (9%) with non-traumatic vaginal sores or boils. Laboratory results were positive forChlamydia trachomatisin 5.4% (11/203), syphilis in 3.5% (7/202), HIV in 1.0% (2/200), andNeisseria gonorrhoeaein 1.0% (2/203). Among those that had microscopy, hyphae suggestive of candidiasis were visualized in 2.2% (1/45) and no cases of trichomoniasis were diagnosed 0% (0/45). Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 28.3% (13/46). The prevalence of chlamydia was 4.9 (95% CI: 1.3-17.7) times greater among those 25 years of age and under (10.8%) than those older (2.3%). Chlamydia and bacterial vaginosis were the most common sexually transmitted infection and vaginal condition, respectively, in this study of rural Haitian adult women. The higher risk of chlamydia in younger women suggests education and screening programmes in young women should be considered.

Keywords: Haiti; Women; sexually transmitted infections; vaginal symptoms; vaginitis.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Distribution of vaginal infections and conditions in the study population. Petit Goâve, Haiti, 2013 (N=206)
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