Bacterial vaginosis and Chlamydia trachomatis among pregnant abused and nonabused Hispanic women.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) among abused and nonabused pregnant Hispanic women.

DESIGN

Retrospective audit of charts of 233 pregnant, abused Hispanic women and 468 pregnant, nonabused Hispanic women.

SETTING

Three urban prenatal clinics of a public health department in the southwestern United States.

SAMPLE

The medical records of 701 pregnant Hispanic women.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Diagnosis of BV and/or CT among abused and nonabused pregnant women.

RESULTS

Combined prevalence of BV and CT was significantly higher for abused women (z score = 2.55; df = 138; p < .05). There was no significant difference between abused and nonabused women for CT alone (z score = .96; df = 33; p < .05); however, prevalence of BV was significantly higher for abused women (z score = 1.99; df = 104; p < .05).

CONCLUSION

In this sample of pregnant Hispanic women prevalence of BV was significantly higher in those who had been abused, indicating the need for targeted screening of all abused pregnant women for BV.