International Journal of Innovation and Development

Bacteriuria Investigation among Female Cohorts in Community Healthcare Facility

Mina Ofosu

Kumasi Technical University

Ruhiyat Shaibatul Hamdi

Kumasi Technical University

Daniel Odei

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Opoku Bempah

Kumasi Technical University

Solomon Wireko

Kumasi Technical University

Herbert Ekoe Dankluvi

Kumasi Technical University

Linda Opponbea Amoani

Kumasi Technical University

Abena Kyeraa Sarpong

Kumasi Technical University

Keywords: Bacteriuria, Asymptomatic, Healthcare, Females and community

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Abstract

Bacteriuria is the indication of bacteria in the urine which has currently been reported to affect about one hundred and fifty (150) million people worldwide, each year, either presenting as symptomatic or asymptomatic cohorts. Asymptomatic cohorts generally do not indicate symptoms as against their symptomatic counterparts. This prevents the infections in the former group to be recognized and given the appropriate attention. The symptoms that may be presented by an infected individual serve as the primary indicator of an infection. Women are three times more likely to develop urinary tract infections compared to their male counterpart due to their natural anatomical structure and certain activities they go through as part of their bodies’ make-up such as narrower urethras, sexual activity, pregnancy, distance between faecal flora passage and the urinary tract and sometimes rapid hormonal fluctuations. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in females. A cross-sectional study design was employed where fifty (50) participants were recruited from a health center in one of the suburbs in the Kumasi Metropolis. The study involved administration of pre-tested questionnaires and the collection of mid-stream urine samples from participants to conduct macroscopic and microscopic investigations. A large proportion of forty-six percent (46%) of the females recruited for the study presented asymptomatic bacteriuria with ages between fourteen and nineteen (14 and19), indicating the highest risk. This could result in some unhealthy practices, which were established to be carried out by the participants recruited for the study such as douching, poor sanitary pad modification, and a general disdain for hygiene norms among this age group. It is therefore recommended that appropriate fora be established for education against these practices and awareness on the causes and effect of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) be created.

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Author Biographies

Mina Ofosu, Kumasi Technical University

Department of Laboratory Technology, Kumasi Technical University. Kumasi-Ghana

Ruhiyat Shaibatul Hamdi, Kumasi Technical University

Department of Laboratory Technology, Kumasi Technical University. Kumasi-Ghana

Daniel Odei, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Opoku Bempah, Kumasi Technical University

Department of Laboratory Technology, Kumasi Technical University. Kumasi-Ghana