Evaluating diagnostic indicators of urogenital Schistosoma haematobium infection in young women: A cross sectional study in rural South Africa

ObjectiveThis study examines the role of age-disparate partnerships on young women’s HIV risk by investigating coital frequency and condom use within age-disparate partnerships involving women aged 15 to 24.DesignA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted.SettingParticipants were randomly selected using a two-stage random sampling method in uMgungundlovu district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, between June 2014 and June 2015.ParticipantsA total of 1306 15–24-year-old women in an ongoing heterosexual partnership were included in the analysis. Participants had to be a resident in the area for 12 months, and able to provide informed consent and speak one of the local languages (Zulu or English).Primary and secondary outcome measuresSexual frequency was assessed by asking participants how many times they had sex with each partner in the past 12 months. The degree of condomless sex within partnerships was assessed in the survey by asking participants how often they used a condom with their partners.ResultsAge-disparate partnerships were associated with a higher order category (once, 2–5, 6–10, 11–20, >20) of coital frequency (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.32, p<0.05, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.71) and with sex on more than 10 occasions (aOR 1.48, p<0.01, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.96) compared with age-similar partnerships. Age-disparate partnerships were also more likely to involve sex on more than 10 occasions with inconsistent condom use (aOR 1.43, p<0.05, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.96) in the previous 12 months.ConclusionThe finding that increased sexual activity is positively associated with age-disparate partnerships adds to the evidence that age-disparate partnerships pose greater HIV risk for young women. Our study results indicate that interventions to reduce risky sexual behaviour within age-disparate partnerships remain relevant to reducing the high HIV incidence rates among adolescent girls and young women.

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Prevalence ofTrichomonas vaginalisinfection and protozoan load in South African women: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016959 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. e016959 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Dewi J de Waaij ◽

Jan Henk Dubbink ◽

Sander Ouburg ◽

Remco P H Peters ◽

Servaas A Morré

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Vaginal Discharge ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

African Women ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Vaginal Infection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rural South ◽

South African Women ◽

Rural South Africa

ObjectivesTrichomonas vaginalisis thought to be the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. We investigated the prevalence, risk factors and protozoan load ofT. vaginalisinfection in South African women.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 604 women was conducted at 25 primary healthcare facilities in rural South Africa (Mopani district).T. vaginalisDNA was detected in vaginal and rectal swabs. In univariate and multivariate analyses, theT. vaginalisinfection was investigated in relation to demographic characteristics, medical history and behavioural factors. TheT. vaginalisload was determined as the logarithm of DNA copies per microlitre sample solution.ResultsCollected vaginal and rectal swabs were tested forT. vaginalisDNA. Prevalence of vaginalT. vaginaliswas 20% (95% CI 17.0% to 23.4%) and rectal 1.2% (95% CI 0.6% to 2.4%). Most women (66%) with a vaginal infection were asymptomatic. Factors associated withT. vaginalisinfection were a relationship status of single (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.5 to 4.0; p<0.001) and HIV positive infection (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.0 to 2.6; p=0.041). Women with vaginalT. vaginalisinfection were more likely to have concurrentChlamydia trachomatisrectal infection than those without vaginal infection (12%vs3%; p<0.001; OR 4.1). A higher medianT. vaginalisload was observed among women with observed vaginal discharge compared with those without vaginal discharge (p=0.025).ConclusionsVaginal trichomoniasis is highly prevalent in rural South Africa, especially among single women and those with HIV infection, and often presents without symptoms.

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