Determinants of Syphilis and Trichomonas Infections among Women Attending Selected Health Facilities in Kigali, Rwanda

Background: Syphilis and Trichomonas are among more than 30 known Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). They make part of the four (4) most prevalent treatable STIs globally, together with Chlamydia and gonorrhea. They are associated with lifelong health problems, especially among women and their babies, including but not limited to exacerbation of HIV acquisition risks, preterm labor, birth defects, and deaths. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and determinants of Syphilis and Trichomonas infections among women attending selected Health Facilities (HFs) in Kigali, Rwanda. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey that collected data from 174 women who attended eight (8) HFs in Kigali, Rwanda from October 7 to December 6, 2019, for Outpatient Diagnosis (OPD) services. The HFs were purposefully selected while women participants were recruited using a systematic random sampling strategy. Vaginal swabs were microscopically examined for the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis and Syphilis was diagnosed using FaStep Syphilis Rapid tests to detect IgG and IgM specific to Treponema pallidum. The questionnaire captured information on the socio-demographic charact