Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnant Women at General Hospital Ilorin, Kwara State

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes including preterm labour, premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, and postpartum endometritis, making its prevalence characterisation in Nigerian antenatal populations clinically important. This study determines the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and its association with pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women at General Hospital Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional study enrolled 200 pregnant women at 14 to 28 weeks gestation. High vaginal swabs were collected and processed by Gram staining using Nugent criteria for BV diagnosis. Clue cells, pH measurement by nitrazine paper, and whiff test were also performed as composite diagnostic criteria. Sociodemographic and obstetric history data were captured by structured questionnaire. BV prevalence was 28.5 percent. Asymptomatic BV accounted for 64 percent of positive cases. BV was significantly associated with preterm labour (OR 2.9), prior spontaneous abortion (OR 2.1), and vaginal douching practice (OR 3.4). Nulliparous women had lower BV prevalence than grand multiparous women. The study underlines the burden of asymptomatic BV in Ilorin antenatal attendees and the clinical risk it poses. Recommendations include routine BV screening by Nugent criteria at first antenatal contact, counselling against vaginal douching, and treatment of symptomatic and high-risk asymptomatic BV with metronidazole as per national guidelines in Kwara State. Keywords: bacterial vaginosis, pregnancy, Nugent criteria, preterm labour, Ilorin