Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and its associated risk factors among women of reproductive age attending Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria

Introduction: spp. and increased anaerobic bacteria. The objectives of this study were to establish the prevalence of BV and its risk factors among women of reproductive age. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 220 non-pregnant women of reproductive age attending Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in Plateau state, north central Nigeria, between August 2021 and January 2022, in which 110 women were asymptomatic, and 110 women were symptomatic. Self-administered questionnaires were used to identify the sociodemographic status and predisposing factors of the participants. Positive BV diagnosis was made using the Nugent scoring system and bacterial species were identified on selective media. A descriptive analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test at a 95% confidence interval to determine the prevalence of BV and its associated risk factors. Results: spp. were present but not dominant, with an overall prevalence of 8.2%. Conclusion: underscores the need for further research. Overall, the understanding of the vaginal microbiome is crucial for developing effective healthcare interventions for managing BV.