Abstract

INCIDENCE OF CANDIDIASIS AMONGST PREGNANT WOMEN IN GENERAL HOSPITAL ABRAKA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Clement Oliseloke Anie*, Johnson Daniel Jemikalajah, Christiana Orevaoghene Akpo and Okonkwo Chika Peace

ABSTRACT

Pregnant women are commonly known to develop vaginal discharge which can lead to complications in pregnancy such as abortions, low birth weight, premature birth, and morbidities. This study was designed to verify the incidence of Candidiasis among pregnant women attending antenatal care unit in General Hospital Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. A total of one hundred (100) high vaginal swabs (HVS) samples were obtained from pregnant women having vaginal infections symptoms. The samples were examined microscopically and equally cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose agar (SDA) for proper identification of the isolates. Out of 100 pregnant women sampled, 46% tested positive for Candida species and 34% positive for Candida albicans. There was no statistical significant different (p<0.05) in the incidence rate of candidiasis among the age groups studied. The highest incidence rate of 70.59% and 52.94% was recorded for Candida sp. and Candida albicans in the age group of < 20 years while the least incidence rate of 36.96% and 28.26% in the age range of 21-30 years respectively. The study also revealed that pregnant women in their primary level of education had lower incidence of 6.52% when compared with their illiterate counterparts with incidence rate of 30.43%. There was a significant different (p<0.05) of candidiasis in the level of education among the pregnant women. The incidence of Candida albicans in relation to vaginal discharge or discomfort showed that 24 % had vagina discomfort/ vaginal discharge. High incidence of Candida albicans and other Candida species among pregnant women were observed in this study. This study has showed that candidiasis commonly caused by Candida albicans is still a major health challenge among pregnant women. Good personal hygiene is thus recommended to reduce or prevent the spread of infections.

Keywords: Incidence, Pregnant women, Candida albicans, Abraka.