Table 1.
Characteristics of Study Participants at Baseline Visit
| Characteristic | Bronx (n = 20) | Thika (n = 18) | P Valuea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y, mean ± SD | 36.35 ± 7.49 | 29.50 ± 6.54 | .007 |
| Race.ethnicity | |||
| White | 5 (25) | 0 | .021 |
| Black | 13 (65) | 18 (100) | |
| Other | 2 (10) | 0 | |
| Latinx | 8 (40) | 0 | .003 |
| Education, y, mean ± SD | 13.93 ± 2.42 | 10.89 ± 3.45 | .013 |
| Birth control method | |||
| Hormonal contraceptive | 4 (20) | 6 (33) | .11 |
| Copper IUD | 1 (5) | 5 (28) | |
| Condoms | 5 (25) | 2 (11) | |
| Tubal ligation | 3 (15) | 0 | |
| None | 7 (35) | 5 (28) | |
| Regular menstrual cycle (21–35 d) | 19 (95) | 13 (72) | .083 |
| History of anal sex | 8 (40) | 0 | .003 |
| No. of vaginal sex acts past 30 days, mean ± SD | 2.70 ± 2.70 | 6.94 ± 7.02 | .026 |
| History of douchingb past 90 d, mean ± SD | 3 (15) | 5 (28) | .44 |
| History of BV | 13 (65) | 3 (17) | .004 |
| History of STI | 10 (50) | 2 (11) | .015 |
| Current smoker | 7 (35) | 0 | .009 |
Data are presented as No. (%) unless otherwise indicated.
Abbreviations: BV, bacterial vaginosis; IUD, intrauterine device; SD, standard deviation; STI, sexually transmitted infection.
aχ 2 test was used for race and birth control method; Fisher exact test was used for ethnicity, regular menstrual cycle, current smoking, and history of anal sex, douching, BV, and STI.
bBronx women reported douching with vinegar or powder and Thika women were more likely to report use of soap and a bathing towel.