Prevalence, risky behaviors, and antimicrobial resistance of urinary tract infections in pregnant women: A study in Jordan

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is prevalent among pregnant women, emerging as the most frequent type of infection during pregnancy. This study aimed to reveal UTI prevalence in Jordan, identify risk practices, assess antibiotic adherence, and evaluate UTI recurrence among pregnant women. A prospective observational cohort study, conducted from January to July 2023, was employed to Urinary tract infections (UTIs) during pregnancy. Participants were recruited during routine visits to Al-Bashir Governmental Hospital and Jamil Al-Totenji Governmental Hospital maternity clinics in Jordan. Binary logistic regression identified UTI predictors among pregnant women. Out of 536 participants, 34.3% of pregnant women were found to have UTIs. Amoxicillin/clavulanate demonstrated the highest level of resistance among the tested antibiotics and 42.4% of the pregnant participants adhered to the prescribed antibiotic regimen. Several factors were identified as contributing to an elevated risk of UTIs, including elevated body mass index (BMI) (P = .011), utilization of dry toilet paper (P = .023), frequent utilization of public restroom facilities (P < .001), delayed urination (P < .001), nonuse of cotton underwear (P = .019), frequent sexual activity (P < .001), lack of postcoital urination (P < .001), and inadequate genital hygiene before (P < .001) and after (P < .001) intercourse (including the husband's). However, the use of wet wipes was the only factor associated with recurrent UTIs (P = .037). Emphasizing hygiene practices and managing BMI could play pivotal roles in reducing UTI risks among pregnant women.