FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PREVALENCE OF VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS AMONG GIRLS STUDYING AT KATUNGURU SEED SECONDARY SCHOOL IN RUBIRIZI DISTRICT

Table of Contents

Abstract.......................................................................................................................... i

COPYRIGHT................................................................................................................ ii

AUTHORISATION.....................................................................................................iii

Declaration................................................................................................................... iv

Approval ....................................................................................................................... v

Dedication.................................................................................................................... vi

Acknownlegement ...................................................................................................... vii

Abbreviations.............................................................................................................viii

Definition of terms....................................................................................................... ix

Contents........................................................................................................................ x

List of figures.............................................................................................................. xv

List of tables............................................................................................................... xvi

CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................... 1

1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background Information......................................................................................... 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem........................................................................................ 4

1.3 Justification............................................................................................................. 5

1.4 Study Objective....................................................................................................... 6

1.4.1 General Objective ................................................................................................ 6

1.5 Research Questions................................................................................................. 6

CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................... 7

Literature Review.......................................................................................................... 7

2.0 Introduction............................................................................................................. 7

2.1 Knowledge about Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.......................................................... 7

2.1.2 Causes of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis ................................................................... 9

2.1.3 Preventive measures........................................................................................... 10

2.1.4 Diagnosis............................................................................................................ 10

2.1.5 Treatment ........................................................................................................... 11

2.1.6 Recurrence of VVC............................................................................................ 12

2.1.7 Alternative medicine.......................................................................................... 12

2.2 Practices contributing to VVC.............................................................................. 13

2.2.1 Antibiotic use..................................................................................................... 14

2.2.2 Increased estrogen levels. .................................................................................. 14

2.2.3 Impaired immune system................................................................................... 14

2.2.4 Sexual activity.................................................................................................... 15

2.2.5 Local factors....................................................................................................... 15

CHARPTER THREE.................................................................................................. 15

METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................... 15

3.0 Introduction........................................................................................................... 15

3.1 Study Area and rational ........................................................................................ 16

3.2 Population ............................................................................................................. 16

3.3 Study Design and rational..................................................................................... 17

3.4 Sample size estimation.......................................................................................... 17

3.5 Sampling method .................................................................................................. 18

3.6. Inclusion criteria .................................................................................................. 18

3.7 Exclusion criteria .................................................................................................. 18

3.8 Data collection procedures.................................................................................... 18

3.9 Data Analysis and presentation............................................................................. 19

3.10 Quality Control and management of data ........................................................... 19

3.12 Limitations of the study ...................................................................................... 20

3.13 Ethical Consideration.......................................................................................... 20

CHAPTER FOUR....................................................................................................... 22

DATA PRESENTATION........................................................................................... 22

4.0 Introduction.................................................................................. 22

4.1 Social demographic characteristics....................................................................... 22

4.2 The level of awareness about Vulvovaginal candidiasis among girls at Katunguru seed secondary school.................................................... 24

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................ 35

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.. 35

5.0 Introduction.................................................................................................... 35

5.1 Discussion of study findings................................................................................. 35

5.1.1 Social – demographic characteristics of girls at Katunguru seed secondary school .......................................... 35

5.1.2The level of awareness about Vulvovaginal candidiasis among girls at

Katunguru seed secondary school............................................................................... 36

5.1.3 Practices contributing to Vulvovaginal candidiasis among girls at Katunguru seed secondary school in Rubirizi district ............................... 38

5.2 Conclusions........................................................................................................... 39

5.3 Recommendations................................................................................................. 40

5.4 Recommendations for further research................................................................. 41

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 42

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................ 46

APPENDIX I: WORRK PLAN FOR THE STUDY.................................................. 46

APPENDIX II: TIME TABLE ................................................................................... 47

APPENDIX III: INFORMED CONSENT FORM..................................................... 48

APPENDIX IV: QUESTIONNAIRE ......................................................................... 49

APPENDIX V: LETTER OF AUTHOURIZATION................................................. 54

APPENDIX V: THE MAP OF UGANDA SHOWING RUBIRIZI DISTRICT........ 55

Rubirizi district ........................................................................................................... 55

APPENDIX VI: THE MAP OF RUBIRIZI DISTRICT ............................................ 56

APPENDIX VII: SKETCH SHOWING THE MAP OF KATUNGURU SEED SCHOOL........................................................... 57

Abstract 

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an opportunistic fungal of the female lower genital tract, the vulva and the vagina caused by Candida spp. (Sobel, et al, 2007). The purpose of the study is to assess the factors contributing to the prevalence of Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VCC) among secondary school girls at Katunguru seed school in Rubirizi district. The study design used was an analytical cross-sectional design which utilized quantitative method of data collection. The sample size of 60 respondents was employed, achieved through simple random sampling. The study found out that there were relationships between social-demographic characteristics and prevalence of VVC, most of the girls (80%) had some awareness about VVC and majority of the respondents (75%) had good practices towards the prevention and reducing the prevalence of VVC There is a great need for health education by health workers to explain to the girls issues concerning their health and also emphasize proper test and confirm the diagnoses of diseases and give full treatment for the diagnosed cases.