Association between Impure Well Water and Bacterial Vaginal Infection among Women in Hassan Shami Camp

Background: Vaginal infections among the women of childbearing age are a major health issue, especially when they are displaced in a camp that has poor sanitation facilities. This research was done to establish the relationship between usage of impure well water and bacterial vaginal infections among women in Hassan Shami Camp in Iraq.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of vaginal infection, confirm types of infection and investigating the connection of impure well-water used in daily activities and bacterial vaginal infection in women of reproductive age at the Hassan Shami Camp.

Methods: The study was a cross sectional descriptive study that was done between December 6, 2020, and February 25, 2021, on 145 women of reproductive age who attended primary health care centers in Hassan Shami Camp. Face to face interview was used to collect the data using a semi structured questionnaire and vaginal swab samples were cultured to determine the type of infection. Analysis of water in the camp was done to establish the microbial content.

Findings: The research findings were that bacterial vaginal infection of 29.7, mixed bacterial and Candida infections of 26.9, fungus of 25.5 and mixed Candida and Trichomonas of 1.4 were common whereas normal flora was found in 16.6. Notably, 95.2 percent of the infected women drank and conducted daily activities using well water (p < 0.001). Analysis in the lab proved that the same bacteria species that was identified in the vaginal swab cultures were found in the well water and through this, there was a direct correlation between the infected vaginal and contaminated water.

Conclusion: Polluted water in wells is very vital in enhancing bacterial vaginal infections in Hassan Shami Camp women. The study highlights the necessity and urgency of clean water supply, camp laboratories, as well as community health education programs.