SUMMARY Four hundred and thirty six patients attended the gynaecological outpatient clinics of the Federal Medical Centre Owerri, between the months of March and May 2005. One hundred and fifty of them were recruited into this study, out of which fifty-seven of them were found to have bacterial vaginosis. This gave the prevalence of the disease among the study population to be 38%. The disease was significantly higher among those less than 25 years (P = 0.0001), and those that initiated sexual intercourse at younger age (P= 0.004). There was also significant increase in the prevalence of the disease with increase in the total number of lifetime sexual partners (P = 0.006). In addition there were significant associations between bacterial vaginosis and the patients’ occupations ( P = 0.032), history of induced abortion (P = 0.007), co-infections with either Yeast (P = 0.046) or Trichomonas vaginalis (P = 0.001). There was no significant association between the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and the following factors; marital status, level of education and previous history of sexually transmitted infections and the patients’ presenting complaints. The level of awareness of bacterial vaginosis among the patients was very poor. It is suggested that screening and treatment of bacterial vaginosis among women should be frequently carried out in the hospitals especially among those within the reproductive age groups. It is suggested that efforts should be strengthened using seminars and mass media to increase the awareness of bacterial vaginosis among the populace so as to enhance sensible sexual behaviour among them.