Urinary tract infection in pregnancy and its correlates

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the major health problems in pregnancy throughout the world. Prevalence of UTI during pregnancy is also very common in Bangladesh. Objective: To find out the proportion of the pregnant mothers having UTI and its correlates attending at Antenatal Clinic of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the pregnant mothers attending at Antenatal Clinic of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Total 300 pregnant mothers were selected by random sampling with the view to find out the proportion of urinary tract infection (UTI) among the pregnant mothers and its correlates. Data were collected by a pretested semi structured interview schedule. The interview schedule was designed to record the health and socio-demographic status, and the symptoms of UTI if present. Data were analyzed in computer using SPSS program. Descriptive analytical techniques involving frequency distribution, computation of percentage, mean, SD etc. were applied. Association between variables were conducted applying Chi-square and Fisher's Exact test. Results: A total of 300 pregnant mothers, 26 (8.7%) were found to have urinary tract infection. UTI was common among the older and illiterate pregnant mothers. Dysuria and frequent micturation were the main symptoms of UTI among the pregnant mothers. Conclusion: The pregnant mothers and health care providers of the urban Rajshahi should be aware and motivated to take care about this problem.