Racial Disparity in Infection Rate

A new study shows that a woman's chance of developing the most common vaginal infection during pregnancy is nearly twice as high if she or her partner is black.

University of Pittsburgh researchers have reported that the incidence of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy, (the most common type of vaginal infection) is nearly doubled if either she or her sexual partner is black versus white.

Given the fact that bacterial vaginosis is also a risk factor for preterm birth, and that the risk for preterm birth is also double for black mothers versus that of white mothers, this is compelling information.

This study examined 325 women in their first trimeter of pregnancy. They found that the risk of developing bacterial vaginosis was 26.2% among white women and 45.3% among black women.

While researchers can't know for sure the reason(s) for the racial disparity, they speculated that "the male contribution to bacterial vaginosis may be due to environmental factors, such as circumcision status or a man's genital bacteria. They also theorize that "immune discordance between the male and female partner may contribute to risk."

This study did not look at whether or not birth or gestational age at the time of birth was affected by the presence of bacterial vaginosis. It is an interesting study that brings up at least as many questions as it answers. Ideally more studies will need to be done in order to help mothers prevent bacterial vaginosis especially given the high rates of preterm birth in the African-American community today.

Brenda