Trichomoniasis in pregnant human immunodeficiency virus-infected and humanimmunodeficiency virus-uninfected Congolese women: Prevalence, risk factors, and association with low birth weight

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for vagin al trichomoniasis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected and human immuno deficiency virus-uninfected pregnant Congolese women and its relationship t o pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a nested case-control study of 215 infected and 206 uninfected mothers who responded to questionnaires, underwent sexually transmitted disease testing (including culture for trichomoniasis shortly a fter delivery), and underwent assessment of infant outcomes. Maternal varia bles and birth outcomes were assessed according to presence or absence of t richomoniasis and human immunodeficiency virus. RESULTS: Trichomoniasis was present in 18.6% of human immunodeficiency viru s-positive and 10.2% of human immunodeficiency virus-negative women, respec tively (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.6), and was signifi cantly associated with low birth weight (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence in terval, 1.2-4.5). In multivariate analyses trichomoniasis remained associat ed with low birth weight, and adjustments were made for other risk factors associated with low birth weight. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest an association between trichomoniasis an d low birth weight independent of human immunodeficiency virus infection an d other risk factors. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of an tenatal screening and treatment for trichomoniasis on pregnancy outcomes.