My work aimed to improve certain aspects of the problem of female genital infections. I studied over 800 women seeking care for genital complaints at health care facilities in Nairobi Kenya. Most patients reported recurrent episodes in a year, two-thirds had laboratory-confirmed genital infections including vaginal candidiasis and sexually transmitted infections. Many individuals had an assortment of infections, and those with recurrent candidiasis had unique biological markers. The recommended treatment guideline was applied variably, and incorrect treatment was common especially for mixed infections and recurrent candidiasis. My work exposes the weightiness of the genital infections problem and the associated gaps and challenges, and some biological insight into recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. To enhance care for women with genital infections, further research is necessary to develop improved treatment guidelines, better implementation of the guidelines, accurate diagnosis, and better targeted treatments, alongside continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, training and oversight.
Dr. Omosa-Manyonyi holds the MBChB degree from the University of Nairobi, postgraduate degree in Infectious Diseases (University of London), and Diploma of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She is completing her PhD studies in the Department of Internal Medicine at Radboudumc. Gloria presently is a university lecturer, infectious diseases researcher, and trainer in clinical research.