Prevalence of Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection Among Married Pregnant Women in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey of Trichomonas vaginalis infection has been conducted among married pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, for the first time in pregnancy, the direct microscopy technique was adopted. Of the 120 pregnant women studied, 4(3.3%) were infected with T. vaginalis. Individuals age 20-25 years were most infected (3.7%). Women in their third trimester of pregnancy were significantly more infected (1.1%), than those in their second trimester (1.6%) and first trimester (2.3%). Despite reporting a low prevalence of T. vaginalis among pregnant women in the study, this does not imply completely ruling out the presence of T. vaginalis among pregnant women due to the diagnostic technique and also that even the low occurrence among pregnant women in the hospitals cannot totally explain general occurrence. T. vaginalis infection can be dangerous and poses serious threat to the health. Hence, the need for prevention of T. vaginalis and that efforts for prevention of T. vaginalis infection should be targeted at all women of child bearing age. Since T. vaginalis is primarily sexually transmitted, educational efforts must be aimed at high risk groups including women without any formal education and must be explicit regarding the behaviours that leads to the spread of T. vaginalis, and other sexually transmitted infections. There is also the need for proper counseling and education on sexual behaviour and genital hygiene which would greatly help in the prevention of the infection.