Prevalence, incidence, and persistence or recurrence of trichomoniasis among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women and among HIV-negative women at high risk for HIV infection

Abstract

Trichomoniasis has been implicated in the acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The prevalence, incidence, and persistence or recurrence of trichomoniasis were assessed among HIV-positive women and among HIV-negative women at high risk for HIV infection. A total of 871 HIV-seropositive women and 439 HIV-seronegative women enrolled in the HIV Epidemiology Study (HERS) were seen biannually. The prevalence of trichomoniasis was 9.4%-29.5% among HIV-seropositive women and 8.2%-23.4% among HIV-seronegative women. Prevalence decreased over time, did not vary according to HIV status or CD4 cell count, and was higher among women who reported crack use (P=.02) or cigarette use (P=.02), women who had bacterial vaginosis (P=.02), and those who were black (compared with white women, P<.001). There were no differences, according to HIV status or CD4 cell count, in the adjusted incidence, unadjusted incidence, or persistence or recurrence of trichomoniasis. HIV infection does not make a woman more likely to have prevalent, incident, or persistent or recurrent trichomoniasis.