Association between Trichomonas vaginalis infection and spontaneous preterm labour in Lagos, Nigeria: an analytical cross-sectional study

Background Preterm labour (PTL) leading to preterm birth is a grave complication of pregnancy that attracts long-term medical and social sequelae. However, there is still a paucity of data on the impact of Trichomonas vaginalis infection on PTL especially among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective This study determined the association between T. vaginalis infection and PTL among pregnant women in Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria using a molecular-based rapid antigen detection technique to diagnose T. vaginalis infection. Methods This was a multicenter analytical cross-sectional study carried out among parturients managed in the labour ward units of three hospitals in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria between April and December 2019. High vaginal swab samples were collected from n = 105 pregnant women with PTL and an equal number of women who had term labour between April and December 2019. T. vaginalis Antigen Rapid test was used for the detection of T. vaginalis in the vaginal samples. Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to control for all potential confounders in the association between T. vaginalis infection and PTL. Statistical significance was reported at p < 0.05. Results The prevalence of T. vaginalis infection was significantly higher in women with PTL compared to those with term labour (12.4% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.009). On adjustments for age, parity, booking and educational status, abnormal vaginal discharge and occurrence of prelabour rupture of membranes, there was no association between T. vaginalis infection and PTL (adjusted Odds ratio = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.10-9.29). Conclusions The study showed no independent association between T. vaginalis and PTL. We recommend future adequately powered longitudinal studies with consideration for other potential confounding factors, such as sexual lifestyle and STIs, to further explore any potential relationship between T. vaginalis and PTL.