Background: The pregnant women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis may be at risk of
adverse birth outcomes such as premature rapture of membranes, premature labour, low birth
weight, post – abortion or post-hysterectomy infections, as well as neonatal infections.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of trichomoniasis among pregnant women attending
antenatal clinic in Maiduguri Metropolis, Northeastern Nigeria. Settings: Three health facilities
in Maiduguri Metropolis were used; Yerwa Maternal and Child Health Care Center (Yerwa),
State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri (SSHM) and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital
(UMTH). Methodology: The study was a cross sectional survey of nine hundred and nineteen
pregnant women aged between 15-44 years. Vaginal swab was collected from each of the
subjects, The Samples were analysed within one hour of collection. Vaginal swab specimens
were also cultivated in prepared OXOID Trichomonas medium and examined for motile
Trichomonads. Results: Of the total 919 pregnant women studied 101 (10.99%) were found
to have Trichomonas infection, with the highest prevalence at Yerwa Maternal and Child
Health Center; age group between 15 and 26 years were most (46.5%) affected; there were no
significant differences between the second and the third trimesters infections. The infection
was more (19.6%) prevalent among those with primary education, while 43% of business
women and students were infected. Conclusion: The prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis
infection of 11% in our community is a public health risk, therefore, clinicians should routinely
screen all pregnant women for the infection and appropriate treatment be given early,
emphasis must be placed on the youths, those with low educational background and the
business women.