Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Predictors of infection with Trichomonas vaginalis: a prospective study of low income African-American adolescent females
  1. R Crosby1,
  2. R J DiClemente1,2,
  3. G M Wingood1,
  4. K Harrington3,
  5. S L Davies4,
  6. E W Hook III5,
  7. M K Oh3
  1. 1Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education and Emory Center for AIDS Research, Atlanta, GA, USA
  2. 2Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Atlanta, GA, USA
  3. 3School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
  4. 4School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
  5. 5School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama, Birmingham
  1. Correspondence:
 Richard Crosby, PhD, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Room 542, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
 rcrosby{at}sph.emory.edu

Abstract

Objectives: To identify psychosocial predictors of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among low income African-American adolescent females living in a high risk urban area of the United States.

Methods: Baseline plus 6 and 12 month follow up data collected as part of an HIV prevention intervention trial were utilised. The baseline sample consisted of 522 African-American females, 14–18 years of age. Recruitment sites were located in low income neighbourhoods of Birmingham, Alabama, characterised by high rates of unemployment, substance abuse, violence, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. Self administered vaginal swab specimens were cultured for T vaginalis. Baseline measures collected as part of a self administered survey and face to face interviews were used to predict subsequent infection with T vaginalis at any of the three assessment periods conducted over the span of 1 year.

Results: At baseline, 12.9% were diagnosed with T vaginalis. At the 6 and 12 month follow ups, T vaginalis was diagnosed in 8.9% and 10.2%, respectively. The strongest multivariate predictor of T vaginalis infection was biologically confirmed marijuana use; those using marijuana were more than six times as likely to test positive for T vaginalis (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.2, p = 0.0003). Other multivariate predictors were reporting that typical sex partners were at least 5 years older (AOR = 2.6; p = 0.005), reporting sex with non-steady partners (AOR = 1.9; p = 0.02), and history of delinquency (AOR = 1.3; p = 0.02). The odds of testing positive increased by 31% for every one unit increase on a six item scale measure of delinquency.

Conclusions: Infection with T vaginalis was common and significant multivariate predictors comprised a constellation of problem behaviours, each of which are potentially amenable to behavioural intervention.

  • trichomoniasis
  • adolescents
  • females
  • marijuana

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

Linked Articles

  • Brief Encounters
    Mohsen Shahmanesh