Prevalence and Clinical Aspects of Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection Among High-Risk Women in Karaj, Iran Publisher



A Bairami Kuzehkanan A ; K Kabir KOUROSH ; Ba Alaei Behrouz ABBASI ; S Bahadory SAEED ; M Rezaian MOSTAFA
Source: Iranian Journal of Parasitology Published:2024

Abstract

Background: Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, which causes health and emo-tional damages to the sufferers annually. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of T. vaginalis and its related risk factors among the high-risk women in the city of Karaj, central Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2021 and September 2022. In all 192 samples were taken from high-risk women referred to the center for vulnerable women and also from women in Fardis Prison of Karaj. All samples were examined by culture and microscopic method. Results: The overall prevalence of T. vaginalis in high-risk women was estimat-ed at 7.8% (15/192). Subgroup prevalence was also assessed according to the severity of symptoms, and no significant association was observed between the prevalence and the symptoms’ severity. Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of the parasite among vulnera-ble/high-risk women, particularly in people with poor socioeconomic condi-tions, preventive health measures in this high-risk group seem necessary. Nevertheless, given that men have no symptoms but may be carriers of the parasite, the same study is also recommended for men. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.