Prevalence and Clinical Aspects of Infection among High-Risk Women in Karaj, Iran.

BACKGROUND

Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the protozoan which causes health and emotional damages to the sufferers annually. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of and its related risk factors among the high-risk women in the city of Karaj, central Iran.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2021 and September 2022. In all 192 samples were taken from high-risk women referred to the center for vulnerable women and also from women in Fardis Prison of Karaj. All samples were examined by culture and microscopic method.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of in high-risk women was estimated at 7.8% (15/192). Subgroup prevalence was also assessed according to the severity of symptoms, and no significant association was observed between the prevalence and the symptoms' severity.

CONCLUSION

Due to the high prevalence of the parasite among vulnerable/high-risk women, particularly in people with poor socioeconomic conditions, preventive health measures in this high-risk group seem necessary. Nevertheless, given that men have no symptoms but may be carriers of the parasite, the same study is also recommended for men.