Prevalence and factors associated with Trichomonas vaginalis infection in indigenous Brazilian women

• Published in: PloS one 2020-10, Vol.15 (10), p.e0240323-e0240323
• Main Authors: Barbosa, Marcelo Dos Santos, Andrade de Souza, Iara Beatriz, Schnaufer, Erica Cristina Dos Santos, Silva, Liliane Ferreira da, Maymone Gonçalves, Crhistinne Carvalho, Simionatto, Simone, Marchioro, Silvana Beutinger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biology and Life Sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Candida albicans - genetics; Candida albicans - isolation & purification; Coinfection - epidemiology; Coinfection - microbiology; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diagnostic systems; Distribution; DNA; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; Ethnicity; Female; Funding; Gardnerella vaginalis - genetics; Gardnerella vaginalis - isolation & purification; Health aspects; Humans; Indigenous Peoples; Infections; Medical diagnosis; Medicine and Health Sciences; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Minority women; Pap smear; Parasitic diseases; People and places; Polymerase chain reaction; Population; Populations; Prevalence; Prisoners; Public health; Questionnaires; Research and Analysis Methods; Risk Factors; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social sciences; Socioeconomic Factors; Squamous cells; Statistical methods; STD; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trichomonas Infections - epidemiology; Trichomonas Infections - ethnology; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomonas vaginalis - genetics; Trichomonas vaginalis - isolation & purification; Trichomoniasis; Urban areas; Urban Health; Vagina; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240323

There is a scarcity of studies on the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) in indigenous populations of Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study between January and December 2018, on indigenous women living nearby an urban center of the Midwest region of Brazil and determined the prevalence of TV. Factors associated with TV infection and a comparison of molecular and direct microscopy diagnoses were determined. 241 indigenous women aged above 18 years participated in the study. Cervical and vaginal brush samples were collected to diagnose TV through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Direct microscopy for detection of TV, and cellular changes was performed. A sociodemographic and behavioral questionnaire was applied at the beginning of the study. All the data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The result obtained showed that 27.8% [95% CI: 22.2-33.9] were positive for TV on PCR, while 7.41% [95% CI: 4.1-11] showed positive on direct microscopy. Direct microcopy also found 21 (8.71%) and 8 (3.31%) women infected with Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans, respectively. In addition, 10 women presented atypical squamous cells of unknown significance and 14 lesions suggestive of HPV. Single women, under the age of 30 and who do not use condoms, were found to have a greater chance of getting TV infection. The high prevalence TV found in this population is comparable to highly vulnerable populations, as prisoners, sex workers and women in regions with low socioeconomic levels, moreover, seems to be an underdiagnosis of this infection. Therefore, a routine test program, as well as a review of the diagnostic method used, is encouraged for proper management.