European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most common bacterial infections during pregnancy.
Untreated UTI can be associated with serious obstetric complications. This cross-sectional
study was carried out to determine the prevalence of UTI among pregnant women. UTI was
diagnosed using mid stream urine (MSU) culture. Using >10’5 colony forming unit per millilitre
as a significant level of bacteriuria, the prevalence was found to be. There was a high
incidence of infection in 21-25 years age group (43.75%). There was also a high incidence of
infection in the third trimester of pregnancy (51.56%) compared to first (17.18%) and second
trimester (31.25%). Multiparty is associated with increased urinary tract infections in pregnancy.
Regarding education 10% were literate and 90 % were illiterate. Prevalence of bacteriuria
was 94% in women who had past history of urinary tract infection.80% were sexually
active. E.coli was the most frequently isolated pathogen. These findings underscores the importance
of screening all pregnant women for significant bacteriuria, so that positive cases
should be treated subsequently with antibiotics in order to reduce the adverse effects on both
maternal and fetal health.