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Trichomonas vaginalis associated with low birth weight and preterm delivery
- Source :
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases. July, 1997, Vol. 24 Issue 6, p353, 8 p.
- Publication Year :
- 1997
-
Abstract
- Background: Several studies have suggested that pregnant women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis may be at increased risk of an adverse outcome. Goal: To evaluate prospectively the association between T. vaginalis and risk of adverse pregnancy outcome in a large cohort of ethnically diverse women. Study Design: At University-affiliated hospitals and antepartum clinics in five United States cities, 13,816 women (5,241 black, 4,226 Hispanic, and 4,349 white women) were enrolled at mid-gestation, tested for T vaginalis by culture, and followed up until delivery. Results: The prevalence of T vaginalis infection at enrollment was 12.6%. Race-specific prevalence rates were 22.8% for black, 6.6% for Hispanic, and 6.1% for white women. After multivariate analysis, vaginal infection with T vaginalis at mid-gestation was significantly associated with low birth weight (odds ratio 1.3; 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.5), preterm delivery (odds ratio 1.3; 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.4), and preterm delivery of a low birth weight infant (odds ratio 1.4; 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.6). The at tributable risk of T vaginalis infection associated with low birth weight in blacks was 11% compared with 1.6% in Hispanics and 1.5% in whites. Conclusions: After considering other recognized risk factors including co-infections, pregnant women infected with T. vaginalis at mid-gestation were statistically significantly more likely to have a low birth weight infant, to deliver preterm, and to have a preterm low birth weight infant. Compared with whites and Hispanics, T vaginalis infection accounts for a disproportionately larger share of the low birth weight rate in blacks.<br />Pregnant women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis appear to be at increased risk for delivery complications. T. vaginalis infection and delivery complication rates were determined among 13,816 pregnant women. Overall, 12.6% of the women were infected with T. vaginalis mid-way through pregnancy. Infected women were 1.3 times more likely to deliver prematurely or to have a low birth weight infant. They were 1.4 times more likely to deliver a low-birth-weight infant prematurely. The highest infection rates were seen among black women who also had a higher risk of low-birth-weight infants than other ethnic groups.
Details
- ISSN :
- 01485717
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Gale General OneFile
- Journal :
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- edsgcl.19670188