The Prevalence and Outcomes of Urinary Tract Infections Among Pregnant Mothers Attending Antenatal Clinic in Mityana General Hospital

ABSTRACT Background Urinary tract infection is one of the most frequently seen medical complications in pregnancy. UTI in pregnancy is an important concern, as it possesses risk of complications such as acute and chronic pyelonephritis, toxemia, anemia, hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation and increased perinatal mortality. The detection of urinary tract infections allows an approach to be made for the prevention of chronic urinary disease in the community and to avoid complications in pregnancy at an early stage. OBJECTIVES: (1) To study the prevalence and outcomes of urinary tract infection among pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic at Mityana General Hospital from April 2014 to September 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 6,230 mothers attended antenatal clinic and samples to be investigated were obtained from 103 mothers who were symptomatic. Subjects comprised of varying ages from 14 to 40 years, subjects from varying parity and from all three trimesters were included in a period of six months i.e. from April to September 2014. UTI had been diagnosed using microscopic observation of pus cells and epithelial cells in midstream urine samples. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of UTI in pregnancy was 1.46% There was a high incidence in 21–25 years age group (32.9%). There was also high incidence of infection in the second trimester of pregnancy (50.5%) compared to the first (16.5%) and third trimester (32.9%). Nulliparity and having one child was associated with a higher prevalence (43.9%) as compared to having 2-4 children (39.6%) and having more than 4 children (16.5%). Majority of the mothers who tested positive were treated (85.7%), some were lost to follow-up (9.9%) while (4.4%) were not treated. CONCLUSION: Given the burden of UTI during pregnancy, with regards to adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes, these infections must be adequately diagnosed and efficient treatment initiated. Early treatment of UTI not only averts the occurrence of other complications, but also diminishes the risk of premature and perinatal mortality