Association between Risk Factors and Trichomoniasis among Women in Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Historically, the presence of T. vaginalis has been viewed to be associated with certain risk factors. This study is focused on assessing the association between selected risk factors and trichomoniasis. The cross-sectional study was composed of 650 women, 450 of them were tested for trichomonas infection using urine samples while the remaining 200 were tested for trichomonas infection using a high vagina swab (HVS). These women were randomly selected among pregnant women, women with HIV, Out-patient, and healthy volunteers.  After consenting to participate in the study, data concerning their exposure to selected risk factors were gathered through a filled questionnaire. The results revealed that there was an association between “engaging in unprotected sex” and trichomoniasis (p<0.05). Similarly, there were associations between the prevalence of trichomoniasis and “wearing air-tight underwear” (p<0.05), “repeating underwear” (p<0.05), “knowledge of trichomoniasis” (p<0.05) and “source of information” (p<0.05). This study has shown that engaging in unprotected sex, wearing air-tight underwear, repeating underwear, knowledge of trichomoniasis and source of infection are significant risk factors of trichomoniasis among women in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).