PREVALENCE OF TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC IN TWO HEALTH FACILITIES WITHIN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Trichomoniasis being referred to as the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection of both male and female urogenital organs. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis among pregnant women attending antenatal at Sabon Tasha General Hospital (STGH) and Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital (YDMH) who were not on any treatment for sexually transmitted infection for 30 days prior to the period of this research. A total of four hundred and five (405) pregnant women consisting of two hundred and one (201) and two hundred four (204) from Sabon Tasha General Hospital and Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital respectively, were involved in the study between the periods of September 2019 to January 2020. Socio-demographic information such as age and marital status were obtained from all participating women within the age range of 15-43 years. The prevalence of trichomoniasis 25(6.17%) and 9(4.48%) for YDMH and STGH respectively was observed. Although the highest rate of trichomoniasis infection was recorded in age group of sexually active women (26-30), the prevalence of trichomoniasis in this study was not significantly affected by age and marital status (P>0.05). However, the variation of infection rate between the two health facilities in this study is an indication that the prevalence rate of trichomoniasis varies with location, nature of hygiene, sexual habit and level of education of the individual. The study advocates for sexual and health education at every antenatal clinic and routine screening for trichomoniasis among pregnant and women of reproductive age in order to curb the outbreak of the disease.