Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 09 | Published: 05 Oct 2026
Christopher Yaw Dumevi1, George Boateng Kyei2, Patience Tetteh-Quarcoo3, Irene Ayi4, Patrick Ayeh-Kumi5,&, Lorie Christa Quansah1, Rhoda Oklu1, Smith Joshua1, Ezekiel Kofi Vicar1, Joyce Junior Asiamah6, James-Paul Krech6, Nicholas Dayie3
1Department of Physician Assistantship Studies, School of Medical Sciences, Central University, Accra, Ghana;
2Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana,
3Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana,
4Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana,
5Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana,
6Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
&Corresponding author: Patrick Ayeh-Kumi, Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, Email: pfayeh-kumi@ug.edu.gh
Received: 11 Mar 2026, Accepted: 02 Sep 2026, Published: 05 Oct 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Trichomoniasis, knowledge, attitudes, preventive practices, undergraduate students, Ghana, sexually transmitted infections
©Christopher Yaw Dumevi et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Christopher Yaw Dumevi et al., Knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding Trichomonas vaginalis infection among undergraduate health sciences students in Ghana. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):09. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-0009
Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, is a neglected non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) with high burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Undergraduate students may engage in risky sexual behaviours due to newfound autonomy. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding trichomoniasis among university students in Ghana.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2024 among 387 randomly selected undergraduate health sciences students at Central University, Accra, Ghana. Data were collected via a structured 53-item questionnaire assessing socio-demographics, knowledge (23 items), attitudes (9 items), and preventive practices (11 items). Scores ≥70% were classified as “good.” Multivariable logistic regression identified associated factors (p<0.05).
Among participants (81.4% female; mean age 20 years), 68.0% demonstrated good knowledge of trichomoniasis, but only 9.0% correctly identified T. vaginalis as a parasite. Positive attitudes were observed in 82.9%. Females had twice the likelihood of good knowledge versus males (aOR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.128–2.912; p=0.012). Older age groups (21–25 years: aOR=2.91; 95% CI: 1.621–5.001; 26–30 years: aOR=4.01; 95% CI: 1.967–8.001) and good attitudes (aOR=5.03; 95% CI: 4.220–9.121; p=0.010) were significantly associated with higher knowledge. Female sex (aOR=5.33; 95% CI: 3.900–10.21; p<0.0001), good knowledge (aOR=3.01; 95% CI: 2.208–5.291; p<0.0001), and good attitudes (aOR=3.22; 95% CI: 1.991–5.44; p<0.0001) independently predicted good preventive practices. Despite high condom awareness, 40.8% believed condoms reduce sexual pleasure.
Undergraduate health sciences students in Ghana showed good knowledge (68.0%) and attitudes (82.9%) toward trichomoniasis, yet critical gaps remain: only 9.0% recognized T. vaginalis as a parasite, and 40.8% believed condoms reduce pleasure. Younger males (18–20 years) need targeted education. To address this, Ghana’s Ministry of Education should integrate parasitology-focused STI content into curricula; the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service must revise STI guidelines to include university-based trichomoniasis screening and deploy campus campaigns and peer educators countering condom myths; and the National Population Council and Youth Authority should fund age-specific interventions for younger males.
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