Hygiene practices and sexual activity associated with urinary tract infection in pregnant women

Abstract

A case-control study determined the association of urinary tract infection [‎UTI]‎ with genital hygiene practices and sexual activity in pregnant women attending prenatal clinics in Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran. A sample of 100 pregnant women with positive urine cultures [‎cases]‎ were compared with 150 healthy pregnant women matched for age, social, economic and education status and parity [‎controls]‎. Escherichia coli was the infecting organism in 83% of cases. Factors associated with UTI included sexual intercourse > /= 3 times per week [‎OR = 5.62]‎, recent UTI [‎OR = 3.27]‎, not washing genitals precoitus [‎OR = 2.16]‎, not washing genitals postcoitus [‎OR = 2.89]‎, not voiding urine postcoitus [‎OR = 8.62]‎ and washing genitals from back to front [‎OR = 2.96]‎