Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Consultations at the General Reference Hospital of Makiso in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Infections during pregnancy are a source of premature onset of labour, of ectopic pregnancy in women and of infections, especially of the eyes and lungs, in newborns. A third of women usually suffer from urinary tract infection before the age of 24. Bacteria are the cause of most urinary tract infections. Women are much more affected than men because their urethra is shorter and facilitates the entry of bacteria into the bladder. These infections rank 2nd (15%) among the contributing causes of maternal deaths worldwide. This descriptive-analytical study aims to determine the prevalence of urinary infection in pregnant women by the presence of white blood cells and epithelial cells in the urinary sediment. Of 215 pregnant women who came to the Makiso Reference General Hospital for Prenatal Consultation, Only 85 have agreed to give their urine for microscopic examination in the laboratory during the period from September 10 to December 10, 2021. This analysis shows that out of a total of 85 respondents, 56.5% of cases are positive compared to 43.5% of negative cases. High infection was observed in pregnant women from the Makiso commune (62.5%); the most affected age group was 32-41 years (37.5%); the age group 42 years and over had only one case (2%). 32.9% of infected pregnant women have no level of study; This study provides more information on urinary tract infection in pregnant women who came for Prenatal Consultation.