title: Prevalence of Trichomoniasis among 18-48 Year-old Women in Northwest of Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of trichomoniasis among women aged 18 to 48 yr in Ardabil, northwestern Iran and the relationship between demographic factors and the risk of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vaginal discharge samples of 914 women aged 18 to 48 yr, referred to Gynecology Clinic of Sabalan Hospital of Ardabil, Iran in 2014, were collected andTrichomonas vaginalisinfection was examined using wet mount and Dorset culture medium. In addition, demographic data was collected using a questionnaire as well as clinical examination, and analyzed with SPSS ver. 16, using Chi-square test, andt-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 914 samples studied, 3.38% by wet mount and 4.48% by parasite culture were infected byT. vaginalis. Sensitivity of direct or wet mount method was 75.6% compared to culture method (standard). We found a significant statistical relationship between trichomoniasis infection and preterm birth (P=0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of trichomoniasis in Ardabil compared to global statistics (5%-74%) is low. Interestingly, the results of this study (4.84%) were consistent with the results obtained in Tabriz (4.46%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ahady
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Safavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: Solmaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abed
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pourasgar
keywords: Iran; Prevalence; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomoniasis; Women