TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING NEW NYANYA GENERAL HOSPITAL, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Trichomoniasis is of medical concern among the pregnant women, which if detected can be treated. We investigated the occurrence of Trichomonas vaginalis among pregnant women attending New Nyanya General Hospital, Nasarawa State. Urine and vaginal swab samples of 960 pregnant women were collected and examined by wet mount and Giemsa stained smears. The overall prevalent rate of trichomoniasis was 7.5% among the studied subjects. The infection occurred more frequently among age group 46-45 years with prevalent rate of 25.0%. Observation of motile form of the parasite in both urine deposit and vaginal swab wet mounts is a more reliable mode of diagnosis than the use of Giemsa stained smears when the parasite is dead. The implication of trichomoniasis in pregnant women was discussed.