The prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans in the cytology clinic at Ibadan, Nigeria.

In a study of 2224 adult women from the cytology clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, the prevalence of 'specific vaginal infection' (i.e. Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans) was 14.5%. For individual organisms, the rates were 9.76% for G. vaginalis, 2.52% for T. vaginalis and 2.20% for C. albicans. About half of the patients were asymptomatic while others were referred from other clinics with vaginal discharge, cervical erosion, post-coital bleeding, intermenstrual bleeding and various other symptoms and signs. The infections were almost uniformly distributed in all age groups studied. Increasing promiscuity either as a result of increased mobility of husbands (due to economic depression) or increased use of contraception by older women was thought to be responsible for the persistence of these infections in those aged 45 years and above. In addition, Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans infections can also be easily diagnosed from cervical cytology, by identification either of the organism or of characteristic cytological cellular changes.