African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

ISSN 2756-3332

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparison of the effectiveness of vitamin C vaginal tablet with metronidazole vaginal gel in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Abbaspoor Zahra1*, Goodarzy Fateme2 and Abbaspoor MohamadReza3

1Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahwaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.

Bandar Abbas Medical Sciences University, Minab Health Center, Iran.

3Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahwaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.

Accepted 22 September, 2018

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis is a change of vaginal flora in which the normal lactobacilli flora is replaced by an overgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobic bacteria. Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginal infection in women during their reproductive age. The relationship between bacterial vaginosis and increase of vaginal pH is suggested by the use of intravaginal acidification substances as a way for normalization of vaginal flora and treatment of bacterial vaginosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of vitamin C vaginal tablet and metronidazole vaginal gel in treatment of bacterial vaginosis in patient referring to Ahwaz Amir Al Momenin hospital in Ahwaz city, Iran. In this randomized clinical trial 60 non-pregnant women aged between 15 - 45 years with confirmed diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis by Amsel criteria were randomly assigned to receive either 250 mg vitamin C tablet via vaginal route once daily for 6 days (n = 30) or 5 gm of 0.75% vaginal gel metronidazole once daily for 5 days (n = 30). The results of both groups compared for demographic characteristic, contraceptive and education level. The cure rate evaluated in both groups after two (1st and 2nd weeks) follow up visits. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics, χ2 and Fisher’s exact test performed. The study shows that cure rate after 1 week in vitamin C vaginal tablet group was 76.7% and in metronidazole vaginal gel group was 80% and after 2 weeks, cure rate was 9.5 and 5% respectively. Vitamin C vaginal tablet 250 mg is as effective as metronidazole vaginal gel for treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

Key words: Bacterial vaginosis, vitamin C, metronidazole.