A comparative study of Trichomonas vaginalis prevalence in Filipino women
Arambulo, P.V.; Cabrera, B.D.; Osteria, T.S.; Baltazar, J.C.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 8(3): 298-302
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 607419 Document Number: 119941
To study the Trichomonas vaginalis infection rate in the Philippines, 280 women were examined, by either wet mount or stained smear methods, in the greater Manilla area. chi-square with 1 degree of freedom=9.5). Among a waitress/hostess group the prevalence of infection was 5 times higher (15.2%) than in a housewife/other group designation (2.7%). Infection was related to parity and was significantly higher among nulliparous women (5/41 cases or 12.2%); prevalence decreased as parity increased. A similar significant relationship obtained between prevalence of infection and gravidity; here, prevalence decreased with increasing gravidity from 14.3% in nongravid women to 7.7% in gravida 1-2 women to 3.3% in gravida 3 and over women. No relationship was shown between use or nonuse of contraception and T. vaginalis infection prevalence. Although the prevalence was noted to be slightly higher among nonacceptors (7.4%) than acceptors (5.1%), the difference was not statistically significant. There was no relationship revealed between the type of contraceptive method used and presence of infection. Finally, no significant association was found between the presence of the parasite and symptoms.