Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in Pregnant Women in Zanjan, Northwest of Iran

Abstract

Background:In the last two decades the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are dramatically increased and remain a major public health problem in developing countries. Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis which is a flagellated protozoon associated with vaginitis, cervicitis and urethritis. Researchers believed that pregnancy is one of the influencing factors of the genital trichomoniasis in women. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of trichomoniasis in pregnant women in Zanjan, Iran. Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 1000 pregnant women were examined for diagnosis of trichomoniasis based on direct microscopic examination and culture method. They referred to the treatment and health centers of Zanjan, Northwest Iran, Demographic and personal information of the subjects were collected and evaluated with questionnaires. Results: Thirty-three out of one thousand examined individuals (3.3%) presented vaginal infection with T. vaginalis. Infection in women with lower gestational age, higher mothers' age, higher parity and living in city were significantly associated with increased risk of vaginal trichomoniasis (P < 0.05). Other variables were not significantly associated with parasite infection. Conclusions: The present study found that the infection with T. vaginalis is a health problem in pregnant women correlated with some epidemiological variables and can be considered with microbiological screening tests during pregnancy.

Frequency of Trichomoniasis and Related Risk Factors in the Women Referred to Bandar Abbas Health Centers, Iran, 2017-2018

“…Of course, the interpretation of this result is difficult, but it can be as a result of ethical issues in rural areas, as well as the small countryside, and the familiarity of the whole villagers. This study, contrary to the information obtained in the villages of Iraq, shows that the frequency of the parasite in the villages is very high (24), but is similar to study of Nourian et al in Zanjan (18).…”

“…Many factors affect the frequency of trichomoniasis, including older age, sexual activity, number of sexual partners, coinfection with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), phase of the menstrual cycle, methods of diagnosis, and socioeconomic status (2), and also culture, religious beliefs, people's literacy rate, economic welfare, and health (10). The frequency of this parasite in the study of Nourian et al in Zanjan in pregnant women was 3.3% (18). Other studies are comprised of the results related to the women attending STD clinics in Tehran (4) 3.2%, woman of Ardabil (19), northwest of Iran (4.48%) and women referred to Gynecology Clinic in south-east of Iran (Chabahar) 9.75% (20).…”

“…The most cost-effective method for detecting this parasite is the direct method and observing the discharge in the wet samples (29). The direct method does not have enough sensitivity to detect a parasite, it requires several prerequisites such as the skill of the person and the amount of time spent for observation, as well as the interval of the sampling and observation of the slides (18). In this study, we used two methods of diagnosis, including wet mount and culture.…”

The Study of Trichomoniasis in Pregnant Women Attending Hamadan City Health Centers in 2015

“…2017; 4(2):e41533.from as low as 0.9% to as high as 10.2% in women attending a Gynaecology Clinic in Amol and women prisoners in Tehran province, respectively (18,19). Other recent reports are presenting the prevalence of trichomoniasis in Iran as follows: 1.4% (in Robat Karim), 2.1% (in Kermanshah), 2% (in Kashan), 3.2% (in Tehran), 3.3% (in Zanjan), 4% (in Babol), and 9.2% (in Tabriz) (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

“…In that study, 1000 vaginal samples were surveyed for trichomoniasis by using direct wet mount and Dorset culture medium. Finally, 3.3% of the samples were positive for T. vaginalis and there was no correlation between trichomoniasis and education and also occupation status (24).…”