Methodology

This cross-sectional study was conducted at an Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit of a University teaching hospital from 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019. All women who came for routine antenatal check-up and had had complaint of vaginal discharge were invited to the study. We were able to recruit a convenience sample of 85 women over the 12 month period of the study. All pregnant women with threatened abortion, cervical incompetence, placental abnormalities, history of sexually transmitted disease (STI) and treatment at STI clinics were excluded from the study. All women were recruited to the study after taking their informed written consent.
Data were collected by taking detailed history and thorough clinical examination. Three samples of vaginal discharge were also taken for laboratory investigation.15 The first sample was stored in a vial with 95% alcohol for cytological examination; the second sample was utilised in the amine test; and the third sample was taken with a cotton swab, which was immersed in normal saline (1 ml, in sterile glass) for direct examination.16. The samples were sent to our pathological diagnostic research centre for examination and report. For candidiasis and trichomoniasis, direct microscopically examination was taken as the gold standard for seeing hyphae and flagellate.17 For diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, the Amsel criteria18 were taken as the gold standard.19 The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was confirmed by the presence of three of following four conditions: vaginal discharge, vaginal pH>4.5, positive result in the amine test and presence of clue cells on microscopy.18
The data were collected on different variables i.e. age, parity, gestational period, symptoms and their duration, amount and colour of vaginal discharge with concomitant complaints such as irritation, smell, pain as discomfort and true onset of labour pains.
All continuous variables were analysed with simple percentages and frequency, mean values with standard deviation while categorical variables were analysed with Chi Square tests. P-Value ≤0.05 was considered for statistical significant. There were no missing values. Data were analysed in SPSS, version 23 for Windows.20