Researchers from Department of Disease Control Publish New Studies and Findings in the Area of HIV/AIDS (Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis among pregnant women attending antenatal care in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2020:...).

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Department of Disease Control found that bacterial vaginosis, a condition that increases the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight, is prevalent among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study analyzed data from 74 studies conducted between 2000 and 2020, which included a total of 46,661 pregnant women. The overall pooled mean prevalence of bacterial vaginosis across LMICs was 15.7%, with regional variations ranging from 7.4% in Central and Southern Asia to 25.1% in sub-Saharan Africa. The researchers recommend screening and treatment for all pregnant women, including those with HIV infection, and call for further research to understand the biological mechanisms and develop interventions to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with bacterial vaginosis. [Extracted from the article]