PREVALENCE OF TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS AMONGST COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS (CSWs) IN IBADAN, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Our main objectives was to determine the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis among commercial sex workers (CSW's) in Ibadan, Nigeria. One hundred and sixty nine CSW's randomly selected from 18 brothels and 136 female patients without symptoms were investigated for Trichomonas vaginalis using both direct microscopy and culture methods. Thirty-seven (21.9%) of the 169 CSW's investigated had Trichomonas whilst 26(19.1%) of the 136 control subjects were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis. There was no significant difference between the CSW's with Trichomonas and the control group (p>0.001). We found no association between T. vaginalis and HIV diagnosed in the CSW's investigated. The age range of peak incidence among the CSWs and the control subjects investigated was 20-29 years. While only 6(3.6%) of the CSWs investigated were married, 88(52.1%) were single, 37 (21.8%) separated, 28 (16.6%) divorced and 10(5.9%) widowed. There was no significant difference between the CSW's with vaginal Candidiasis, Gonorrhoea and the control group but genital ulcers and HIV positively were significantly higher (p=0.000) in CSW's than the control subjects. These findings suggest that women who exchange sexual services for money can no longer be ignored. They should be involved in the control and prevention of STDs.

(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(2): 72-77)