DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i10.036

Pages: 3737-3743

The objective is to determine risk factors of vulvo vaginal candidiasis (VVC) in women of a rural community. A total of 322 women comprised of 44 HIV-infected, 177 HIV negative and 101 healthy women were included in this study. Diagnosis of VVC was done by estimation of vaginal pH, microscopic examination of vaginal swabs and culture test for Candida species. Statistically significant association was identified between the age group ≤ 40 years (p < 0.0001; Odd ratio (OR) = 56.4), previous antibiotics users (p < 0.0001; OR = 4.37), azole users (p = 0.0054; OR = 2.29), AIDS patients (p = 0.0003; OR = 3.74), HAART (patients those do not received) (p = 0.0002; OR = 0.06), CD4 count < 200 cell/mm3 (p = 0.0023; OR = 3.08), working women (p = 0.0001; OR = 62.13) and patients belongs to poor economic status (p = 0.0003) with VVC. Patients without medical awareness were found frequently associated with VVC, though without a significant relationship. Patients with pruritus vagina and burning during micturition were more prone to Candida infection. HIV-infected women having vaginal secretions like white color, malodorous with curdy character and thick consistency showed higher Candida carriage than HIV negative patients. Our results are important for the development of strategies to eliminate these indicators of risk and significantly reduce VVC.