scholarly journals Risk Factors for Genital Chlamydial Infection: A Review

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Navarro ◽  
Ann Jolly ◽  
Rama Nair ◽  
Yue Chen

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the occurrence of genital chlamydia in developed countries and review the literature assessing the potential risk factors for this sexually transmitted disease.DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search was performed for all English citations from 1985 to 2000 that contain the keywords "Chlamydia trachomatis", "chlamydial infections", "risk factors" and "sex behaviour". All relevant references cited in articles that were obtained from the search were also included.DATA EXTRACTION: All articles obtained from the above sources were examined, and were included in the review if they met the following criteria: primary study examining sociodemographic or behavioural risk factors associated with genital chlamydial infection using multivariate analysis; study subjects 12 years of age and older; and study setting in a developed country.DATA SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSIONS: Genital chlamydial infection has become the most commonly reported bacterial infection in North America over the past decade. Thirty-eight cross-sectional studies and six cohort studies were included in the present review. Most studies demonstrated that young men and women are at higher risk of being infected with chlamydia than older subjects. Chlamydia seems to be found in a diverse group of people, and unlike gonorrhea, is not concentrated in low income, minority core groups with high rates of partner change. However, a number of studies have shown that communities with well-established control programs are beginning to demonstrate this pattern. There is no clear evidence that chlamydia is associated with type of partners, contraceptive use, or age at first intercourse. Future research should follow this sexually transmitted disease as it evolves through the epidemiological stages to ensure that preventive and treatment services are reaching those people who are most likely to be infected.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Qiaoqin Ma ◽  
Xiaohong Pan ◽  
Gaofeng Cai ◽  
Jiezhe Yan ◽  
Yun Xu ◽  
...  

This study is to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and its risk factors among the female attendees of sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in Zhejiang Province, China. A self-administered questionnaire survey of a cross-sectional design was administered to attendees at four STD clinics in 2007. Of the 313 female STD clinic attendees, 42.5% reported that they had at least one unintended pregnancy; the induced abortion rate was 39.0%. Over their lifetime, 12.1% responded “use condoms always/often” and 5.4% “always/often used oral contraceptives.” The risk factors for the unintended pregnancy identified by the multivariate analysis were as follows: being married, experience of nonconsensual sex, and a history of STD, having two and over two sexual partners. Unintended pregnancies and induced abortion by female STD clinic attendees have reached an alarming prevalence. Doctors at STD clinics should attach importance not only to the STD problem of the female attendees, but also to the unintended pregnancy and the associated factors. Targeted contraceptive counseling and intervention should be promoted at STD clinics as a strategy to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the reproductive health services in China.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-116
Author(s):  
Toni Haapa ◽  
Tarja Suominen ◽  
Anna-Maija Koivisto ◽  
Jari Kylmä

Some dimensions such as stigmatization have been identified in the previous literature regarding experiences of living with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). However, relatively little is known about the generic experiences of those infected. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of living with an STD, as evaluated by those infected. Data ( n = 213) were collected via an online questionnaire and analysed using statistical methods. The experiences of living with an STD varied overall. The immutability of everyday life, a thirst for knowledge, a responsible attitude towards treatment of an STD and the dilemma of disclosing the STD were considered to best describe the experiences of living with an STD. The most recently diagnosed STD and its phase were most often statistically significantly associated with the experiences. We conclude that the diversity of these experiences should be recognized in healthcare, and used in the prevention of STDs.


Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney W. Petersen ◽  
Sepehr N. Tabrizi ◽  
Suzanne Garland ◽  
Julie A. Quinlivan

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is a major public health issue, with notifications of this sexually transmitted disease continuing to rise in Australia. Women attending colposcopy clinics are referred for treatment of cervical abnormalities often associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. There is evidence that women who have acquired one sexually transmitted infection, such as HPV, are at higher risk of acquiring another. Women attending colposcopy clinics may therefore be at risk of undiagnosed infection with C. trachomatis. Aim: To determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis in women attending a public metropolitan colposcopy clinic in Victoria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Institutional ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. Consecutive women attending the colposcopy clinic completed a questionnaire and had a swab collected from the endocervix for analysis by polymerase chain reaction for C. trachomatis. Positive screens were treated in accordance with best practice. Data were analysed with Minitab Version 2004 (Minitab Inc, State College, PA, USA). Results: Of 581 women approached to participate in the trial, consent was obtained from 568 women (98%) and final outcome data was available on 560 women (99%). The overall rate of chlamydial infection was 2.1% (95% CI 1.5–2.7%). However, in women aged 25 years or less the rate was 5.8% (95% CI 3.8–7.8%) and in women over 25 years it was only 0.9% (95% CI 0.4–1.4%). Apart from age, no other demographic factor was significantly associated with chlamydial infection. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of chlamydial infection in the colposcopy clinic population as a whole does not warrant a policy for routine screening, screening directed at women aged 25 years or less would gain the greatest yields in terms of cost efficacy. Such a policy should be implemented as standard practice.


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