Objectives: presenting an approximation to bacterial vaginosis (BV) prevalence in Latin America and exploring the association between types of hygienic habits and sexual practices presented along with such diagnosis. Methodology: this was an epidemiological survey of women aged 16 to 49 from ten Latin-American countries who had active sexual lives and menstrual cycles. Females having another type of vaginal infection, pregnant females or those in puerperium, those unable to fill in the survey or who had changed their sexual partner during the last three-month period were excluded. 1,000 females were included by convenience sampling. The survey revealed BV prevalence; it had and provided data about presumptive diagnosis of BV, sociodemographic data, information about sexual activity, physical grooming, genital hygiene, underwear, intimate and menstrual hygiene and protection related to sexual activity. A presumptive diagnosis of BV was based on clinical and laboratory criteria. The association between BV and the females’ hygienic habits and sexual practices was evaluated by means of OR and 95% confidence intervals. Results: 40% of the surveyed patients had BV. An association was found between BV and alcohol and tobacco use. Washing hands before and after urinating or defecating (OR=0.32; 0.16-0.63 95%CI), using a “suitable” genital washing technique (vulva to anus) (OR=0.55; 0.41-0.74 95%CI), using liquid soap (OR=0.62; 0.46-0.84 95%CI) and soap just for the genital area (OR=0.56; 0.42-0.75 95%CI) were found to be protection-inducing factors. Hygienic habits explored as being risk factors for BV included tampon use (OR=3.00; 1.88-4.80 95%CI), having sexual relations during the menstrual period (OR=1.46; 1.03-2.07 95%CI) and using lubricants during coitus (OR=1.68; 1.07-2.64 95%CI). Conclusion: BV prevalence was found to be similar to that previously reported for Latin-America. Such frequency was found to be associated with hygienic habits and sexual practices.
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