Trichomoniasis as an Indicator for Existing Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women in Aba; Nigeria

"Background:Trichomoniasis is a common clinical problem. Many young women in Aba indulge in high-risk sexual behaviours. A large number of these young women are illiterates; and are in the habit of indiscriminate use of antibacterial agents at the slightest symptoms of a lower genital tract infection. Evaluation of bacterial agents associated with lower genital tract infections is therefore met with much frustration. The diagnosis of Trichomoniasis from lower genital tract is simple and its routine screening among women attending clinics would serve as an indicator for serious sexually transmitted infections in Aba. Methods:This study was undertaken among women attending a women hospital in Aba; Abia State; Nigeria (PrincessMaryHospital; Aba). In the study; 360 women who were attending the family and antenatal clinics were selected. Also; those with gynaecological problems; obvious symptoms of lower genital tract infections and those who visited the hospital for ""well women examination"" were included in the study population. High vaginal swabs collected from these women were examined microscopically by wet mount preparations and bacteriologically by cultures. Results: Out of 360 women screened for Trichomonas vaginalis through wet mount preparation; and other organisms by culture; 40 (11.1) werepositive for Trichomonas vaginalis; 6(1.7); 48(13.3) and 140(38.9) were positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; Gadnerella vaginalis ; and Candida albicans respectively. The difference in age specific distribution of Trichomoniasis was statistically significant using the chi-square (P0.01). Conclusion: The finding of co-infections of T. vaginalis with G. vaginalis (0.6); N. gonorrhoeae (0.6); and C. albicans (2.8) in this study suggests its role in predisposing the carriers to other serious sexually transmitted infections; including HIV infection. There is therefore the need for routine examination of sexually active women for the screening of Trichomonas vaginalis in order to effect increased control efforts. Also; the isolation of T. vaginalis in the genital secretions should lead to a search for other sexually transmitted organisms."

High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Plasmodium Infection in a Suburb of Aba Town; Nigeria

Background:Malaria is endemic in many parts of the world. Various strategies have been planned to control malaria from time to time in many places. Whatever may be the strategy the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic plasmodium parasitaemics has been of prime importance as useful parameter for its control. It is hoped that malaria control programme in Nigeria will benefit from prevalence of parasitaemic study such as this.Method: Ndiegoro flood disaster district was selected by stratified random sampling from 16 districts of ward 3 out of 12 wards in Aba South Local Government out of the 2 Local Governments of Aba Town. About three quarters of the houses were uninhabited as they were submerged at various depths of the selected district. The population who consented for the study was 257. Thick and thin blood films were studied by light microscopy for plasmodium parasitaemia.Results:The prevalence of plasmodium parasitaemics in the 257 studied population was very high (45.1). The asymptomatic parasitaemics were about three times as many as symptomatic parasitaemics (73.2and 26.7respectively). This difference is statistically significant (p.01). The age group 0-4 years gave the least distribution of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemics of 2(2.9) and a very high symptomatic parasitaemics of 16 (88.8). The older age group of 40-59 has statistically significant difference (p 0.01) in the distribution of asymptomatic parasitaemics of 51 (43.6) in males as against 34 (24.3) in females.Conclusion:The high prevalence of parasitaemics but worse still in this study the high rate of asymptomatic parasitaemics which serve as reservoirs of infection can threaten any malaria control programme generally and in particular the present malaria control or Roll-Back malaria in Nigeria. This high rate should be considered in assessing and reorgansing the roll-back malaria in Nigeria or any malaria control programme generally