U. Nilsson et al., SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS AND CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS INFECTION, Sexually transmitted diseases, 24(5), 1997, pp. 241-246
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.