Objective: To establish the extent of GBS colonisation, persistence of colonisation in pregnancy and influence of obstetric history in two diverse communities (rural and urban) in Zimbabwe.
Design: Cross sectional survey.
Setting: Rutsanana Clinic in Highfield, Harare (representing the urban area) and Chitsungo Mission Hospital in Lower Guruve, (representing the rural area).
Subjects: 300 and 100 pregnant women from the urban and rural areas respectively.
Main outcome measures: GBS colonisation and persistence rates for both urban and rural areas were established, together with pregnancy outcome.
Results: Mother colonisation rate was significantly higher in the rural areas (60%) as compared to the urban areas (46%). GBS colonisation persistence was evidently more in rural (48%) that in urban women (12%). Baby colonisation was also more in the rural (23%) that in urban area (5%). In both the rural and urban areas, flu-like illness was a common feature and was equally reported by the subjects. Vaginal discharge requiring treatment, previous stillbirths and previous miscarriages were equally reported in both communities.