Abstract

ALVES, Maria José; OLIVEIRA, Rita; BALTEIRO, Jorge  and  CRUZ, Agostinho. Epidemiology of Trichomonas vaginalis in women. Rev. Port. Sau. Pub. [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.1, pp.27-34. ISSN 0870-9025.

Introduction: Tricomoniose is one of the most common not viral Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in the whole world, with an annual incidence superior to 180 million cases. The World Health Organization estimated that this infection explains almost 50 % of all the curable STDs in the whole world. In Portugal few epidemiologic studies have been carried out on parasitosis. Thus, the objective of this study consisted on determining the prevalence of the T. vagianlis in women who attended the consultation of family planning in the CS N.º1 CS N.º2 and the Hospital in Chaves, and on establishing a possible association of this parasatism with sociodemographic characteristics, symptomatology, sexual behaviour and previous treatment of parasitosis, through the reply to an inquiry. Materials and methods: A sample of vaginal smears was collected in 288 symptomatic and asymptomatic women for research of T. vaginalis appealing to the direct and cultural examination. Results: Of the 288 women who adhered to the study, 11 (3,8 %) were found to have tricomoniose. Variables such as age, marital status, degree of education, use of contraceptive, do not present significant statistical results relatively to the number of positive cases. Among positive cases only 54, 5 % of the women were symptomatic being the remaining 45,5 % asymptomatic. A statistical significant association was found between tricomoniose and multiple sexual partners. Conclusion: In result, there is a need for further studies with the intention to reevaluate the current picture of this parasitosis in Portugal. Finally it seems to be of the utmost importance to inform the population about the high number of asymptomatic cases of parasitosis, as well as about the consequences that may arise from that fact.

Keywords : Tricomonas vaginalis; Epidemiology; Prevalence; Parasatism.

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