PREVALENCE OF VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AT UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT TEACHING HOSPITAL (UPTH)

Vaginal candidiasis (VC) is a fungal or yeast infection of the vulva and/or vagina. The ailment causes a smelly, thick, white-yellowish discharge that might be accompanied by itching, burning and swelling. .This study is aimed to determine the prevalence of Vaginal Candidiasis infection among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in University of Portharcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Portharcourt, Rivers State. A total of 30 High vaginal swab sample, collected from pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in University of Portharcourt Teaching Hospital, Portharcourt were analyzed in this study. The sample was tested for the presence of Candida albicans and other Candida Species using Sabouraud Dextrose agar (SDA) (TPC, India) plates and incubated aerobically at 37 °C, for 24 hours, after which Gram staining was carried out . The result of this study showed that there was 100 percent prevalence rate of Vaginal Candidiasis infection among the subjects examined based on socio-demographic factors. A routine screening of pregnant women for Vaginal Candidiasis during antenatal consultations should be prioritized to abate probable adverse effects on the foetus. All sexually active women within the reproductive age group should, therefore, be screened, in an attempt to determine the actual prevalence of the infection.