The Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection and Associated Risk Factors among Undergraduate Female Students of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Trichomonas vaginalis infection is the most common curable sexually transmissible disease (STD) among women of reproductive age worldwide.

Aims: To determine the prevalence rate and associated risk factors of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among undergraduate female students of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional, as well as institutional-based study.

Methodology: Six Halls of residence were selected for screening and a total of two hundred (200) high vaginal swab samples were randomly collected from consenting female students and analyzed by wet mount preparation. Demographic and clinical information of the participants were obtained using prepared questionnaires.

Results: Out of the 200 female students that were examined, 25 (12.5%) were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis infection. Among the 25 individuals who tested positive for T. vaginalis infection, only 2 (8.0%) were without symptoms associated with vaginal trichomoniasis, while the remaining 23 (92.0%) presented symptoms such as vaginal odour (20%), itching and discomfort (32%) and greenish yellow vaginal discharge (92%). Statistical analysis shows that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the prevalence rate of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among the study participants on the basis of: Age, Tribe, Religion and Study Level; except for Hall of residence. The occurrence of T. vaginalis infection particularly among the occupants of Hall 6 (45.0%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to the occupants of other Halls of residence: Hall 3 (13.0%) and Hall 5 (6.3%). Meanwhile, there was no record of T. vaginalis infection in the rest of the Halls (Hall 1, 2 and 4). Risk factors associated with the occurrence of T. vaginalis infection among the study participants include: Sexual activities, douching, wearing of wet pant, sharing underwear, sharing sanitary facilities and use of sanitary pads among others.

Conclusion: Trichomonas vaginalis infection exists among undergraduate female students of Babcock University. Improvement on the level of personal hygiene and toilet sanitation of Students' Halls of residence is very crucial to the control of non-veneral mode of transmission for T. vaginalis infection.