Genital mycoplasmas among pregnant women in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa: prevalence and risk factors

A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women in Cote d'Ivoire to assess the prevalence and the factors associated with mycoplasma coloni zation. A positive culture was found in 400 of 551 women (73%); Ureaplasma urealyticum was identified in 22%, Mycoplasma hominis in 20% and both micro organisms in 31%. Mycoplasma colonization was not associated with genital s ymptoms or signs. Young age, low educational level, antimicrobial chemother apy before consultation and presence of bacterial vaginosis were factors in dependently associated with M. hominis colonization. Among women colonized with M. hominis, HIV seroprevalence was 21% in women with high amounts of M . hominis (greater than or equal to 10(4) colour-changing units per mi) ver sus 7% in women with lower amounts (P=0.01). U. urealyticum was found more often in unmarried women and when pregnancy was less than 20 weeks. Mycopla sma colonization is frequent among pregnant women in Abidjan, but their pat hogenicity requires further study.