Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Maiduguri, Borno State

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) during pregnancy represent a major obstetric concern associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and etiological agents of UTIs among 200 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno State, in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Midstream urine samples were collected aseptically and processed using standard cultural techniques. Significant bacteriuria was defined as a colony count of at least 100,000 colony-forming units per milliliter. The overall prevalence of UTI was found to be 34.5 percent. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated pathogen, accounting for 42 percent of positive cultures, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Multiparity, low educational attainment, and absence of indoor plumbing were significantly associated with higher infection rates. Sensitivity testing revealed that nitrofurantoin and cephalexin retained favorable activity against most isolates. The study concludes that UTIs among antenatal attendees in Maiduguri are highly prevalent and recommends routine urine culture screening at first antenatal booking for all pregnant women in resource-limited settings across the North East. Strengthened laboratory infrastructure and low-cost point-of-care diagnostics could significantly reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity. Keywords: urinary tract infection, pregnancy, Maiduguri, bacteriuria, antenatal care.