Abstract
Background and Objectives: The prevalence of trichomoniasis in the general population of the United States is unknown. This study provides the first population-based prevalence estimates of trichomo- niasis among young adults in the United States.
Methods: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) is an ongoing prospective cohort study. In a cross-sectional analysis of Wave III of Add Health (N=12,449), we determined the prevalence of trichomoniasis using a polymerase chain reaction assay. the United States.
Results: The estimated overall prevalence of trichomoniasis in U.S. young adults was 2.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8 –2.7%). The prevalence was slightly higher among women (2.8%; 95% CI, 2.2– 3.6%) than men (1.7%; 95% CI, 1.3–2.2%). The prevalence increased with age and varied by region, with the south having the highest prevalence (2.8%; 95% CI, 2.2–3.5%). The prevalence was highest among black women (10.5%; 95% CI, 8.3–13.3%) and lowest among white women (1.1%; 95% CI, 0.8–1.6%). Among men, the prevalence was highest among Native Americans (4.1%; 95% CI, 0.4 –29.3%) and blacks (3.3%; 95% CI, 2.2–4.9%), and lowest among white men (1.3%; 95% CI, 0.9–1.8%).
Conclusions: Trichomoniasis is moderately prevalent among the general U.S. population of young adults and disturbingly high among certain racial/ethnic groups.