Urinary Tract Infection as a Health Problem among Pregnant Women in Baghdad AL Sadder City

Abstract

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) during pregnancy are among the most common health problems worldwide afflicting many women in their reproductive years especially in developing countries. Due to several anatomical and hormonal changes pregnant women are more susceptible to develop UTIs. A cross-sectional study that was carried out on 170 pregnant women infected by the disease and referred to antenatal clinic at five primary health care centers in al-sadder City and the outpatient visitors to (Ibn AL-Baldi maternity and children's hospitals), for the periad from 1st December 2015 to the 1st March 2016. Data were collected through a questionnaire, repeated urine analyses and recording of outcome of pregnancy. The study revealed that maternal age, education status, and occupation had been significantly associated with developing the UTI. More than Half of pregnant women (61.1%) were multiparous, (54.8%) were at 3rd trimester of gestational age, and this had significant differences with development of the disease. Personal hygienic practice of pregnant women with UTI showed that there is a high significant difference with the development of the disease. About one third of pregnant women (37.1%) had previous UTI considered with previous catheterization and diabetes mellitus as risk factors and had a significant differences with development of the disease. As a conclusion all pregnant women should be screened for UTI with a urine culture, treated with antibiotics if the culture is positive and then retested for cure. The goal of early diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy is to prevent complications with all the added benefits to the mother and the Fetus.