[Investigation of the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis with respect to diverse social variables in women (Malatya, Turkey)].

Trichomonas vaginalis is a monoxen parasite and its definitive host is human. It is known that the way of life is an important factor affecting incidence because of sexual transmission. In the present study, the incidence of T. vaginalis has been investigated with direct microscopy, Giemsa staining and culture (cysteine-peptone-liver-maltose (CPLM)). The study included 675 females with complaints of vaginal discharge who presented at different health departments or hospitals in the Malatya region during 2000-2001. T. vaginalis was seen in 55 (8.1%) patients. In addition, during period of presentation, a questionnaire was used to determine the relationship between the sociocultural status of the women and the incidence of T. vaginalis. Some of the questions in this questionnaire showed statistically significant differences in T. vaginalis infections related to the women's sociocultural status. These are as follows: type of toilet used; method and frequency of bathing; type, color, odor and frequency of vaginal discharge, level of knowledge of common sexually transmitted diseases and trichomoniasis; employment or non-employment of herself and her husband; life style in home; and educational level of husband. However, there was no statistical difference seen between other questions in the questionnaire and the existence of T. vaginalis infection.