Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 752437, 6 pages
doi:10.1155/2009/752437
Research Article

Trichomonas vaginalis Infection and Associated Risk Factors in a Socially-Marginalized Female Population in Coastal Peru

Segundo R. Leon,1,2 Kelika A. Konda,3 Kyle T. Bernstein,4 Jose B. Pajuelo,2 Ana M. Rosasco,2 Carlos F. Caceres,1,2 Thomas J. Coates,2 and Jeffrey D. Klausner4

1Laboratorio de Salud Sexual, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 31, Peru
2Unidad de Salud, Sexualidad y Desarrollo Humano, Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 31, Peru
3Division of Infectious Diseases and Program in Global Health, David Geefen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
4San Francisco Department of Public Health, STD Prevention and Control Section, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA

Received 26 December 2008; Revised 28 March 2009; Accepted 11 May 2009

Academic Editor: Jeanne Marrazzo

Copyright © 2009 Segundo R. Leon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Objective. The epidemiology of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among sexually active socially-marginalized women in three urban, coastal Peruvian cities was examined in order to quantify the prevalence of trichomonas infection and identify associated risk factors. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional, venue-based study of women from socially-marginalized populations in three coastal Peruvian cities. Results. Among the 319 women enrolled, the overall prevalence of trichomonal infection was 9.1% (95% CI, 5.9%–12.3%). The mean age was 26.3 years, and 35.5% reported having had unprotected intercourse with nonprimary partners and 19.8% reported two or more sex partners in the last three months. Trichomonal infection was associated with increased number of sex partners (PR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4–4.6) and unprotected sex with nonprimary partner in the last three months (PR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.9). Conclusions. A moderately high prevalence of trichomonal infection was found among women in our study. Trichomonal infection was associated with unprotected sex and multiple sex partners. Efforts to control the continued spread of trichomonal infection are warranted.