VAGINAL STEAMING PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN AT MULAGO STI CLINIC, UGANDA: PREVALENCE, LACTOBACILLI PROPORTION DIFFERENCES, AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS.
- 1Uganda Virus Research Institute
Abstract
BackgroundVaginal steaming has gained popularity among women for reasons known best to them. However, the effects of vaginal steaming on vaginal lactobacilli levels remain poorly understood and understudied. This study investigated the prevalence, assessed differences in the presence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) among women who practiced vaginal steaming and those who do not and determined the factors associated with vaginal steaming among women attending Mulago Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) clinic in Uganda.
MethodsThis study utilized a cross-sectional design to enroll 181 women aged 18 to 49 years who were systematically sampled at Mulago STI clinic. Interviews were conducted to obtain the demographic characteristics of the participants. Vaginal swabbing and Gram staining were done to attain lactobacilli counts by microscopy which were categorized using the Nugent score. Data were analyzed using Stata. The potential confounding effects of other variables on the relation between vaginal steaming and the presence of bacterial vaginosis as well as factors associated with vaginal steaming were assessed using modified Poisson regression.
ResultsPrevalence of vaginal steaming was 40.3%, (95% confidence interval (CI) 33.0% - 48.0%). There were 41.1% women who practiced vaginal steaming occasionally, 53.4% who used hot water having herbs and 78.1% who practiced vaginal steaming for medical reasons. There was no difference in the presence of bacterial vaginosis when women who practiced vaginal steaming were compared to those who did not (p-value = 0.286). Factors that were significantly associated with vaginal steaming included having experienced vaginal issues (aPR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01 - 0.12, p value = < 0.001) and contraceptive use (aPR= 0.52, 95% CI 0.37 - 0.72, p value = 0.001).
ConclusionsAbout 2 in every 5 women at Mulago STI clinic reported to have indulged in vaginal steaming. There was no difference in the presence of bacterial vaginosis when women who practiced vaginal steaming were compared to those who did not. Having experienced vaginal issues and contraceptive use were significantly associated with vaginal steaming among women at Mulago STI clinic, Uganda.
The Ministry of Health of Uganda should establish targeted screening and treatment for bacterial vaginosis alongside other sexually transmitted infections.
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BibTeX
@misc{kakai2026vaginal,
title = {{VAGINAL STEAMING PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN AT MULAGO STI CLINIC, UGANDA: PREVALENCE, LACTOBACILLI PROPORTION DIFFERENCES, AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS.}},
author = {D. Kakai and N. Twinamasiko and E. Kigozi and R. Namutale and B. A. Mutesi and J. Bagaya and L. Akinyi and H. Kajumbula and S. Nakubulwa},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.64898/2026.08.28.26361407},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.28.26361407v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - VAGINAL STEAMING PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN AT MULAGO STI CLINIC, UGANDA: PREVALENCE, LACTOBACILLI PROPORTION DIFFERENCES, AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS.
AU - D. Kakai
AU - N. Twinamasiko
AU - E. Kigozi
AU - R. Namutale
AU - B. A. Mutesi
AU - J. Bagaya
AU - L. Akinyi
AU - H. Kajumbula
AU - S. Nakubulwa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/28
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.08.28.26361407
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.28.26361407v1
AB - BackgroundVaginal steaming has gained popularity among women for reasons known best to them. However, the effects of vaginal steaming on vaginal lactobacilli levels remain poorly understood and understudied. This study investigated the prevalence, assessed differences in the presence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) among women who practiced vaginal steaming and those who do not and determined the factors associated with vaginal steaming among women attending Mulago Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) clinic in Uganda. MethodsThis study utilized a cross-sectional design to enroll 181 women aged 18 to 49 years who were systematically sampled at Mulago STI clinic. Interviews were conducted to obtain the demographic characteristics of the participants. Vaginal swabbing and Gram staining were done to attain lactobacilli counts by microscopy which were categorized using the Nugent score. Data were analyzed using Stata. The potential confounding effects of other variables on the relation between vaginal steaming and the presence of bacterial vaginosis as well as factors associated with vaginal steaming were assessed using modified Poisson regression. ResultsPrevalence of vaginal steaming was 40.3%, (95% confidence interval (CI) 33.0% - 48.0%). There were 41.1% women who practiced vaginal steaming occasionally, 53.4% who used hot water having herbs and 78.1% who practiced vaginal steaming for medical reasons. There was no difference in the presence of bacterial vaginosis when women who practiced vaginal steaming were compared to those who did not (p-value = 0.286). Factors that were significantly associated with vaginal steaming included having experienced vaginal issues (aPR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01 - 0.12, p value = < 0.001) and contraceptive use (aPR= 0.52, 95% CI 0.37 - 0.72, p value = 0.001). ConclusionsAbout 2 in every 5 women at Mulago STI clinic reported to have indulged in vaginal steaming. There was no difference in the presence of bacterial vaginosis when women who practiced vaginal steaming were compared to those who did not. Having experienced vaginal issues and contraceptive use were significantly associated with vaginal steaming among women at Mulago STI clinic, Uganda. The Ministry of Health of Uganda should establish targeted screening and treatment for bacterial vaginosis alongside other sexually transmitted infections.
ER -