Background: Vulvovaginal infection is a common medical
problem in India, presenting with many clinical signs and symptoms. Due to
changes in the vaginal microbiomes, post-menopausal women are susceptible to
many vulvovaginal infections, including Candida. The reported prevalence of
Candida infections in this population varies, and there is limited literature
on associated risk factors in postmenopausal women in India.
Aim: This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence
as well as the association of risk factors for Candida infection in post-menopausal
women.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in
post-menopausal women attending the out-patient department (OPD) of the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of
Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, Odisha, India, from December
2016 to November 2018. Post-menopausal women presenting with abnormal vaginal
discharge, itching and burning of genitalia, erythema, etc., were considered.
Vaginal specimens from the posterior vaginal fornix were collected, and Candida
albicans infection was investigated by using the Albi QuickTM rapid test.
Various data, including socio-demographic features, sanitation access, and
clinical presentations, were analysed statistically for possible association
with Candida infections.
Results: From 209 post-menopausal women included in this
study, Candida infection was found in 9.09% of women. Candida infections were
found to be significantly high in post-menopausal women who were married
(P=0.001), who had no formal education (P=0.044) and who were staying with
>5 persons in their home (P=0.017).
Conclusion: The occurrence of Candida infections, along with
the significant association of various factors reported in this study, calls
for routine vaginal swab analysis in every woman presenting with symptoms, as
well as the need for proper awareness of women's hygiene practices.
Author(s) Details
Nayak Madhumita
School of Life Sciences, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha,
India.
Debta Alliyatri
School of Life Sciences, Asian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar,
Odisha, India.
Purohit Prasanta
Multi-Disciplinary Research Unit, Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati Medical
College, Berhampur, Odisha, India.
Patel Ojaswini
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of
Medical Sciences & Research, Burla, Odisha, India.
Sahoo Sunanda
School of Life Sciences, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha,
India.
Das Padmalaya
School of Life Sciences, Asian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar,
Odisha, India.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rpbs/v10/6865
