ArticlePloS one2014
Prevalence and correlates of bacterial vaginosis in different sub-populations of women in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study.
Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 73 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
73 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 100 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence of genital and anorectal chlamydia trachomatis in Kenya by risk groups: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Pooled it
- Hormonal contraceptive use and the risk of sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2022Pooled it
- Gonorrhoea: a systematic review of prevalence reporting globally.BMC infectious diseases · 2021Pooled it
- Prevalence of Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections in Pregnant Women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries From 2010 to 2015: A Systematic Review.Sexually transmitted diseases · 2016Pooled it
- Genital microbiota of women using a 90 day tenofovir or tenofovir and levonorgestrel intravaginal ring in a placebo controlled randomized safety trial in Kenya.Scientific reports · 2022Trial
- An exploratory pilot study evaluating the supplementation of standard antibiotic therapy with probiotic lactobacilli in south African women with bacterial vaginosis.BMC infectious diseases · 2019Trial
- Effect of population-based antenatal screening and treatment of genitourinary tract infections on birth outcomes in Sylhet, Bangladesh (MIST): a cluster-randomised clinical trial.The Lancet. Global health · 2019Trial
- Trial
- The ring plus project: safety and acceptability of vaginal rings that protect women from unintended pregnancy.BMC public health · 2015Trial
- Trial
- High Burden of Vaginal Infections and Multidrug Resistance With Promising Probiotic Candidates From Cervicovaginal Microbiota in North Region, Cameroon.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Article
- Vaginal microbiomes and their pertinent social context: a microbial ecological review proffering AMR-STI acquisition and emergence.Biology of sex differences · 2026Review
- Special Issue: New Horizons in HIV and Reproductive Health Research: HIV Acquisition and Reproductive Health in Key Populations.American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2026Review
- Epidemiology and management of bacterial vaginosis in Dakar, Senegal.BMC women's health · 2026Observational
- The Role of the Vaginal Microbiome in Gynecological Diseases: Mechanistic Insights and Emerging Interventions.Biology · 2026Review
- Cleanliness Grades as Clinical Indicators of Vaginal Infection Burden in Women from Northern Madagascar: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Association between family planning message exposure and related factors in HIV testing among women of reproductive age in The Gambia: an analysis of a national survey.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and its associated risk factors among women of reproductive age attending Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria.GMS hygiene and infection control · 2025Article
- Contraceptives Association with Vaginal Microbiome and RTI: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Females of Jammu and Kashmir, India.Indian journal of microbiology · 2024Article
- Second trimester vaginalFrontiers in global women's health · 2024Article
13 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
13 authors at 6 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundClinical development of vaginally applied products aimed at reducing the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, has highlighted the need for a better characterisation of the vaginal environment. We set out to characterise the vaginal environment in women in different settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
methodsA longitudinal study was conducted in Kenya, Rwanda and South-Africa. Women were recruited into pre-defined study groups including adult, non-pregnant, HIV-negative women; pregnant women; adolescent girls; HIV-negative women engaging in vaginal practices; female sex workers; and HIV-positive women. Consenting women were interviewed and underwent a pelvic exam. Samples of vaginal fluid and a blood sample were taken and tested for bacterial vaginosis (BV), HIV and other reproductive tract infections (RTIs). This paper presents the cross-sectional analyses of BV Nugent scores and RTI prevalence and correlates at the screening and the enrolment visit.
resultsAt the screening visit 38% of women had BV defined as a Nugent score of 7-10, and 64% had more than one RTI (N. gonorrhoea, C. trachomatis, T. vaginalis, syphilis) and/or Candida. At screening the likelihood of BV was lower in women using progestin-only contraception and higher in women with more than one RTI. At enrolment, BV scores were significantly associated with the presence of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the vaginal fluid and with being a self-acknowledged sex worker. Further, sex workers were more likely to have incident BV by Nugent score at enrolment.
conclusionsOur study confirmed some of the correlates of BV that have been previously reported but the most salient finding was the association between BV and the presence of PSA in the vaginal fluid which is suggestive of recent unprotected sexual intercourse.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.