Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among young reproductive age women in India: implications for treatment and prevention.
BACKGROUND
Trichomonas vaginalis infection is the most common curable sexually transmissible infection (STI) worldwide. The present study describes the burden and correlates of T. vaginalis infection among young reproductive age women in Mysore, India.


METHODS
Between November 2005 and March 2006, sexually active women aged 15-30 years were recruited from low-income peri-urban and rural neighbourhoods of Mysore, India. Participants were interviewed and offered a physical examination and testing for T. vaginalis, bacterial vaginosis, vaginal candidiasis, Neisseria gonorrheoea and herpes simplex virus type-2 antibodies.


RESULTS
Of the 898 participating women, 76 had a T. vaginalis infection (8.5%, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 6.7-10.5%). Nearly all (98%) participants were married and most reported their spouse as their main sex partner. The mean age at marriage was 16.9 years (s.d. 2.9 years) and two-thirds of the sample reported having first sexual intercourse before the age of 19 years. Risk factors independently associated with T. vaginalis infection included early age at first intercourse (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.09; 95% CI: 1.09-4.00), concurrent bacterial vaginosis (OR 8.21; 95% CI: 4.30-15.66), vaginal candidiasis (OR 2.40; 95% CI: 1.48-3.89) and herpes simplex virus type-2 infection (OR 3.44; 95% CI: 1.97-6.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The burden of T. vaginalis infection at 8.5% is relatively high among a community sample of young reproductive aged women. Because this infection increases the risk of HIV transmission and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, there is a need for increased screening and treatment of this easily curable sexually transmissible infection in India.
Madhivanan
Purnima
P
Public Health Research Institute, 89/B, 2nd Cross, 2nd Main, Yadavgiri, Mysore 570020, Karnataka, India. purnima.madhivanan@sfdph.org
Bartman
Melissa T
MT
Pasutti
Lauren
L
Krupp
Karl
K
Arun
Anjali
A
Reingold
Arthur L
AL
Klausner
Jeffrey D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration
D016054:DNA, Protozoan