SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS AND CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS INFECTION

Background and Objectives: Few studies have demonstrated that bacteria l vaginosis (BV) is associated with sexual behavior risk factors simil ar to those for other sexually transmitted diseases, The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of these factors in a multi variate analysis of data from women infected with BV and Chlamydia tra chomatis, and noninfected control subjects, Goals: To study detailed s exual behavior risk factors reported by women with BV versus genital C . trachomatis infection (CT) and by non-BV-infected controls, Study De sign: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,011 women (Swedish Women's Health Study) recruited from family planning and youth clinics in Eskilstuna and Stockholm, Sweden (November, 1989-January, 1991), P articipants were evaluated for the presence of BV, CT, Neisseria gonor rhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Trichomonas vaginalis, and human immunodef iciency virus, and interviewed in detail with respect to sexual behavi ors, Statistical comparisons were made using chi-square test (Pearson and likelihood ratio), t test, and logistic regression multivariate an alysis, Results: Of 956 women eligible for analysis, the prevalence of BV and CT was 13.7% and 8.9%, respectively, The comparison group cons isted of the remaining 825 women without BV, After excluding those,vit h concomitant CT infection, there were 118 women with BV who were comp ared with 72 women with CT infection only, Sexual factors associated w ith BV versus the comparison group were a short-term relationship befo re and after sexual debut, high number of lifetime sexual partners, mu ltiple partners during the last month, high orgasm ability, and more f requent history of group sex, sexual abuse, and rape, When the BV grou p was compared with the CT group, there were no significant difference s in sexual activity risk factors, except for a higher frequency of ex perience of casual sex in the CT group, Conclusions: Bacterial vaginos is is associated with sexual behavior risk factors similar to those as sociated with genital CT infection.