Abstract
Chlamydia Genital infection has been a global health issue especially among most developing countries. Although, a lot of researchers have modelled CT infection to determine the impact of different intervals between Chlamydia infection and the development of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) on the cost-effectiveness of screening and the use of Chlamydia vaccine. This paper seeks to model the dynamics of Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) infection among females who were diagnosed of vaginal discharge and the likelihood of developing PID complications. The model was formulated using a sexual network to explore the relationship between Chlamydia infection through diagnosed vaginal infection and PID. A sample of 147 females were diagnosed and screened of Chlamydia related symptoms on a routine check-up in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality in the Western part of Ghana. Lyapunov functions was used to prove the necessary and sufficient conditions for Stability State of the system while Next Generation Method was also used to calculate the basic reproduction number (<I>R</I><sub>0</sub>). The Stability Analysis of the Modified SIRS model shows that the system is locally and asymptotically stable at the Disease-Free Equilibrium (DFE) E<sub>0</sub>, when <I>R</I><sub>0</sub><1, and when <I>R</I><sub>0</sub>>1, the Endemic Equilibrium (EE) <I>E</I>*<i>,</i> was found to be locally and asymptotically stable at certain conditions. It was observed that, as the distribution increases sharply at a given contact rate (<i>β</i>) of 0.05, many of the patients were infected within the first three days as compared to when the contact rate was 0.001. Moreover, at contact rates (<i>β</i>) of 0.5, <I>R</I><sub>0</sub> was greater than one, this shows how CT infection spreads in the population using parameter values in Table 1. Thus, the effects of change in the various initial conditions of the parameters (λ) and (<i>β</i>) on vaginal discharge and PID infections, turn to increase sharply at a higher infection rate for the first ten days of infection especially with vaginal discharge and then become stable over a period of time. This confirms the incubation period which is usually 7 to 10 days of infection. The paper concludes that, young women aged 18-24 years are more at risk of Chlamydia Trachomatis infection if diagnosed of vaginal discharge or PID and suggest early medication which is highly subsidised will help curb the spread of CT infection in the Municipality.
Highlights
Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) infection is arguably one of the most common Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs) worldwide [1, 2]
CT infection will effectively clear in most women, the infection may persist in some and could ascend to the upper genital tract leading to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) infection [8]
The infectious class is of two folds, Chlamydia infection due to vaginal discharge symptoms which decreases by natural death at rate (μ) and further progresses to the second stage of PID complications as a result of untreated vaginal discharge at rate lambda (λ )
Summary
Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) infection is arguably one of the most common Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs) worldwide [1, 2]. It is prevalent in both industrialised and developing countries worldwide. In 2005, Africa reported a prevalence rate of 3.9% among females and 2.4% in males. CT infection is observed to be higher in rural areas of some African countries [3]. According to Stamm [4], Chlamydia is more prevalent in heterosexuals than in homosexuals and has a higher incidence in those less than 20 years among Africans. CT infection will effectively clear in most women, the infection may persist in some and could ascend to the upper genital tract leading to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) infection [8]
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