Acceptability of a self-sampling technique to collect vaginal smears for gram stain diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis

Womens Health Issues. 2004 Jan-Feb;14(1):14-8. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2003.12.001.

Abstract

To diagnose asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis (BV), self-sampled vaginal smears were collected during a study of risk factors for preterm birth in African American women. More than 90% of those women who were willing to participate in the interview portion of the study were also willing to provide a self-sampled vaginal smear. The smears are an acceptable and efficient way of detecting BV in an urban minority population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Female
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / diagnosis*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Maryland
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Administration
  • Time Factors
  • Vaginal Smears / standards*
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Women's Health