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Trichomonas vaginalis infection in southern Ghana: Clinical signs associated with the infection
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Trichomonas vaginalis infection in southern Ghana: Clinical signs associated with the infection

D.S. Squire, A.J. Lymbery, J. Walters, H. Ahmed, R.H. Asmah and R.C.A. Thompson
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol.113(7), pp.359-369
2019
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Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent for the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) among women of child-bearing age. In Ghana, although the infection is prevalent, there is a dearth of data on the risk factors and symptoms associated with T. vaginalis infection. This study was conducted on 492 women visiting gynaecological and STI clinics in the Volta Region (VR) and Greater Accra Region (GAR) in southern Ghana. Wet mount microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to diagnose T. vaginalis infection. Infection prevalence was 13.2% and 18.1% by WMM and PCR, respectively. Diagnosis by PCR was significantly more sensitive (McNemar’s test, p=0.0003). The regional prevalence of T. vaginalis infection by PCR was 21.7% in the VR and 12.8% in the GAR. There was a significant difference in prevalence between the two regions (Fisher’s exact test, p=0.02). T. vaginalis infection was associated with vaginal itch (odds ratio [OR]=1.71, p=0.04) and a history of engaging in oral sex (OR 1.90, p=0.04). A high prevalence of T. vaginalis infection was recorded among women visiting gynaecological and STI clinics in southern Ghana. There was no consistent association of infection with any recorded clinical signs and no clear risk factors for infection were identified.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

Source: InCites

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.248 Sexually Transmitted Infections
1.248.2104 Trichomonas Vaginalis
Web Of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tropical Medicine
ESI research areas
Social Sciences, general
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