The prevalence of trichomoniasis and associated factors among women treated at a university hospital in southern Brazil

Abstract

BackgroundTrichomoniasis is the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world; however, it remains a neglected parasitic disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of trichomoniasis and its associated epidemiological factors among women treated at a hospital in southern Brazil.Methodology/Principal findingsA cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence of this infection in women treated at Hospital Universitário (HU) in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between January 2012 and January 2015. This study consisted a self-administered questionnaire regarding demographic, clinical, and behavioural data and a molecular diagnosis with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the TVK3/7 primer set, which was confirmed with sequence analysis. Of the 345 women surveyed, the overall prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) was 4.1% (14/345). The prevalence rates were 5.9% among pregnant women, 8.5% among HIV-positive women, and 10.1% among HIV-positive pregnant women. The rates for groups with other significant demographic and clinical features were as follows: 6.6% among women with white skin, 12.3% among women with an income below the minimum monthly wage, 7.4% among women with a vaginal pH greater than or equal to 4.6, and 7.9% among women with a comorbid STD. The multivariate analysis confirmed that pregnant women who were HIV-positive (p = 0.001) and had low incomes (p = 0.026) were the most likely to have this infection.ConclusionsA multivariate analysis confirmed that HIV-positive pregnant women with low incomes were the participants most likely to have trichomoniasis. These results are important because this Brazilian region presents a high prevalence of HIV-1 subtype C, which is associated with greater transmissibility. Additionally, low family income reveals a socioeconomic fragility that might favour the transmission of this STD.

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

“…In this study, the highest frequency of trichomoniasis was seen in pH = 6. This increase of pH can facilitate the growth and colonization of the protozoan (2). However, no significant difference was found between pH and trichomoniasis.…”

“…The prevalence of this parasite in women referred to the public and private Clinics of Hamedan's Obstetrics and Gynecology was (2.1%) (16), which is consistent with the findings of our study, but not consistent with the study of Bahram et al (17) in Zanjan was 6.6%. 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).…”

“…In those women attending nine STD clinics in the USA (23), the prevalence rate was 14.6%, in the women of reproductive age in Brazil 16% (14), in women who suffered from problems in the genitourinary system in the south of Iraq was more than 50% (24). Trichomoniasis among pregnant women referring to two hospitals in Ghana was 20.2% (5) and among women treated at a university hospital in southern Brazil was 4.1% (2).…”

“…Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most important parasites transmitted through sexual contact (1,2). It also increases the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission possibly as a result of the local inflammation often caused by the parasite (3,4).…”

In vitro anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of Haplophyllum myrtifolium

“…The incidence rates for STDs vary according to age, sexual activity, number of sexual partners, menstrual cycle, methods of diagnosis, and socioeconomic status [9]. A limited number studies have investigated the prevalence of trichomoniasis among female and male patients living in Turkey [10].…”