The relationship between various individual characteristics and common vaginal infections among the women referring to Payambar Azam gynecology clinic in Kerman city

Bacterial vaginosis، vulvovaginal candidiasis، and trichomoniasis are the most common vaginal infections among women of childbearing age. This study was performed with aim to investigate the relationship between various individual characteristics and above mentioned infections using newly developed polymerase chain reaction assay and gram staining. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 women referred to Payambar Azam gynecology clinic، Kerman، Iran from 2012 to 2013. The data related to individual characteristics were obtained by applying a researcher–made questionnaire. The patients underwent gynecological examination. Then، samples from posterior fornix discharges were collected using two vaginal swabs that were placed in two microtubes containing 1ml of sterile saline. Polymerase chain reaction assay and gram staining examination were done to diagnose vaginal infections. Data were analyzed by minitab statistical software (version 16)، using chi-square test. P< 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. A significant relationship was found between common vaginal infections and educational level of women (P= 0. 0001)، and their husbands (P= 0. 0001)، and also family income (P= 0. 001)، while no significant relationship was shown between vaginal infections and age، the subject and her husband''s job، family size، duration of marriage، parity and frequency of monthly intercourse، breast feeding status، smoking by the husband and a history of exposure to these infections (P>0. 05). There is a positive correlation between suffering from common vaginal infections (Bacterial vaginosis، candidiasis، and trichomoniasis) and educational level of couples and also family income.