Studies on Douching Practices among Hausa-Fulani Pregnant Women with and without Bacterial Vaginosis in Zaria, Northwest Nigeria

Douching, or the process of applying liquid or semi-liquid, powdery or herbal substances into the
vagina for various reasons may have been an age-old practice in many cultures
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine patterns of douching practices and their
association to vaginal infection among Hausa-Fulani pregnant women in Zaria, Northwest Nigeria.
Study Design: This health facility-based study was a descriptive cross-sectional investigation, with
laboratory analysis for bacterial vaginosis and other vaginal flora.
Results: Of 220 participants, 85.5% consented to regular douching practices. Commonly identified
methods of douching were using hand to insert plain water (80.0%), insertion of toilet soap (55.0%),
using warm water plus disinfectant/salt/ black soap (18.6%) and using a jet or stream of water (8.6%).
Frequent douching was associated with douching during bathing (69.5%), after passing urine (34.1%),
after sexual intercourse (16.4%), before sexual intercourse (5.9%) and at any other times (6.8%).
Pregnant women who douche using fingers to insert plain water were over 1½ times more likely to
have bacterial vaginosis (χ²=1.30, P-value=0.25, OR=1.67, 95% CI: 0.69, 4.09) and those who
douche after sexual intercourse were about 3½ times more likely to develop Bacterial vaginosis
(χ²=8.88, P-value=0.003, OR=3.42, 95% CI: 1.47, 7.93). Douching during bathing and after sexual
intercourse were more prevalent among subjects aged Bacterial vaginosis positive women aged 30-
34 years (100.0%) and those aged 35-39 years (75.0%) respectively.
Conclusions: The practice of douching was common among the Hausa-Fulani ethnic group in
Nigeria. the Hausa-Fulani ethnic group is just one out of hundreds of ethnic groups in Nigeria and
findings in this study do not necessarily apply to douching practices or vaginal infection in other ethnic
groups or other geo-political locations of the country. Further studies are desirable to confirm
douching practices and various vaginal pathology for effective control, education, and management of
female genital tract. A prospective study to look at the effect of douching on pregnancy outcome is
desirable in the future.