30/09/2025
Zambart’s community engagement: efforts aim to raise awareness and promote participation in a crucial study on bacterial vaginosis among young women in Zambia.
Zambart recently conducted community engagement sensitization in preparation for a vital study aimed at investigating the association between menstrual and intrava**nal practices and bacterial vaginosis (BV) among adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The study seeks to determine the prevalence of BV, a common va**nal infection caused by an imbalance of normal bacteria in the va**na, and its link to menstrual and intrava**nal practices. Additionally, the study will measure the levels of four curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas va**nalis, and syphilis - as well as HIV among the study participants.
The study will involve approximately 350 adolescent girls and young women who will be invited to provide self-collected va**nal samples for testing. Participation in the study is voluntary, and all participants will be fully informed about the study's objectives, procedures, and potential benefits.
The study is poised to impact reproductive health for young women in Zambia. By shedding light on the health needs of adolescent girls and young women, our research will inform policy and practice, drive meaningful change and improve health outcomes for a brighter future.
Gates Foundation Ministry of Health Zambia Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde | Institute of Tropical MedicineTM HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council
