Variables investigated for association with BV in studies included for review.

Blank where the variable not investigated or variable not stratified by WSW alone. Odds ratios/ Risk Ratio/ Hazard Ratio/ Proportions/ Kappa score for correlation of vaginal flora (95% confidence intervals) are displayed (Bold where significant) for factors associated with BV. Variables positively/ negatively associated with BV are from multivariate analyses unless otherwise indicated (P reported proportions only, U univariate analysis only). aSame study population (aaSub-population; different variables investigated), bSame study population (bbSub-population; different outcomes measured: prevalent, incident and persistent BV). */**/*** See ‘Notes’ column.–Data not shown; variable not associated with BV. FSP (female sexual partner), MSP (male sexual partner), m (months). BV (bacterial vaginosis), BVAB (bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria)