Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and factors associated among women who have sex with women.
Mariana Alice de Oliveira Ignacio, Juliane Andrade, Ana Paula Freneda de Freitas and 3 others
PMID 30462789WHAT IT FOUND
Bacterial vaginosis was found in 36.0% of 150 women who have sex with women.
Use of sexual accessories was the only factor independently linked to BV.
Key findings
01Bacterial vaginosis was present in 36.0% of the 150 women analysed, and some vaginal microbiota alteration was present in 47.3%.
02In the multivariate model, use of sexual accessories was the only variable independently associated with bacterial vaginosis, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.37 (95% CI 1.13-4.97).
03Tobacco use, hormonal contraception and HPV infection were not independently associated with bacterial vaginosis in the final model.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used snowball referral and community recruitment, not random sampling, so the 150 participants may not represent all women who have sex with women. Of 323 women identified, 293 were contacted, 35 refused, 18 did not meet criteria, 60 did not attend and 30 were excluded, leaving 150 for analysis. Because the study measured sexual practices and bacterial vaginosis at the same time, it cannot show that any behaviour caused bacterial vaginosis. The paper did not test screening or education, so it cannot show that these actions prevent bacterial vaginosis.
Declared interests
The study was based on a master's thesis and supported by FAPESP. No commercial sponsor or competing interest is stated in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the accessory link as proof that sexual accessories cause bacterial vaginosis or that advice will reduce it. The study was cross-sectional, used a non-random sample, and measured behaviours and diagnosis at the same time.