Abstract

Vaginal discharge syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by leucorrhea, which can be caused by reproductive tract infections (RTIs). The aim of this study is to identify productive species of vaginal candidiasis in women referred to health centers in Tehran. The Prerana dataset was collected as part of a prospective cohort study of 898 non-pregnant, reproductive-aged women living in and around Iran, between 2013 and 2014. The primary study objective was to evaluate the relationship between abnormal vaginal flora and the incidence of Herpes Simplex Virus-type 2 infection. Participants completed three study visits-conducted at baseline, and at three and six months-each of which involved an interviewer-administered question naire in Tehran, Iran; a pelvic examination; and collection of vaginal and blood specimens for laboratory testing for reproductive tract infections. Analyses investigating separate research aims will be conducted over three papers, as follows: Bacterial vaginosis and risk of Trichomonas vaginalisinfection, and Epidemiologic features of vulvovaginal candidiasis, and Syndromic diagnosis of vaginal infections using logic regression. The Prerana cohort dataset is well-suited to filling in multiple gaps in the research literature. The analyses are among the first to test (or re-test) specific hypotheses concerning vaginal infection using a community-based sample based in a low-income setting.