Factors Associated With Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Occuring In Reproductive-Aged Female Patients Visiting Five Selected Health Facilities In The Ga East Metropolis Of Accra

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is the occurrence of more than three episodes of Candida infection in the vulva and vaginal area of women in a year. Candida infection is a yeast infection caused by various fungal species in the Candida family. RVCC is a global health problem of women with higher burdens in women with immunocompromising comorbidities and those with low occupational, environmental and personal health hygiene. AIM: This study aimsat assessing the burden of RVVC in reproductive-aged women and highlighting the factors associated with the occurrence of RVVC. METHODS: This was a descriptive (cross-sectional) study aimed at describing the prevalence and identifying the factors associated with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVCC) occurring in reproductive-aged (15-49 years) female patients visiting selected hospitals in the Ga East Metropolis in Accra. The outcome variable was recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. The exposure variables were the factors defined a priori as associated with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis including age, marital status, occupation, and pregnancy status. Random sampling techniques were used to select 160 female patients in their reproductive ages. Data was collected with the help of structured questionnaires and an in-depth interview guide. Collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and imported into Stata version 15 software for statistical analysis. Initial analysis of data included tabulation of primary statistics and graphical representation of age groups of patients having RVVC. Chi-square tests of association were done to assess the association between the explanatory variable sand RVVC. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions models were fitted to determine the factors associated with RVCC. RESULTS: A total of 160 study participants were enrolled in the research. The females used in the study were between the ages of 18-45 with mean age of 28.9 years. A logistic regression for each of the sociodemographic factors was also not statistically significant. Logistic regression of the age groups 24-29, 30-35, 36-41 and above 42 against the 18-23 age group showed a statistically insignificant value for all except the age group 24-29. This group also had the highest proportion of participants with RVVC infection. The result for these sociodemographic characteristics when logistic regression xi was performed was statistically not significant for all the sub-groups under occupation, religion and marital status. For the age however, the age group of 24-29 showed a statistically significant odds ratio, 6.3 (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The research showed that the age range of 24-29 had a higher chance of being infected with RVCC as compared to other age ranges. Thus, this age group has a higher burden of the disease than all other age groups. The burden of RVVC also rested more on office workers, the single females and Christians among the occupational, marital status and religious group classification. The occurrence of RVVC was not associated with sexual activity, and education.