The Prevalence of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection Among Gynecological Outpatients Attendees at Central Basra Hospitals Using One-Step Chlamydia Test

Ali Falih Al-Assadi

doi:10.52916/jogs204003

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence rate of chlamydia infection among gynecological outpatients attendees at central Basra hospitals and assessing the predisposing factors and clinical features. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted at central Basra hospitals during the period from 15 February 2018 to 10 May 2019. The distribution of cases according to the hospitals was 290 patients from Basra maternity and child hospital, 85 patients from Basra general hospital, 75 patients from AL Mawani hospital and 50 patients from AL Fayhaa hospital, this variation in the number depend on outpatient clinics attendees. participants were assessed according to a predesigned questionnaire and screening test for Chlamydia Trachomatis was done for all patients under study by using one-step chlamydia test (Chlamydia Rapid Test Device). Results: Among 500 patients 60% of them were from the age group 20-40 year, 62% were P2-4 and 89% from multipara and grand multipara, 60% were illiterate and 38% were having primary and secondary school, 61% from low socioeconomic class, nonusers of contraception were 23.7% and about 90% of patients were living at the central areas of Basra. Several factors have a statistically significant effect on the Chlamydia Trachomatis infection like being infertile p-value 0.000 or having high parity p-value 0.013 or non-barrier contraceptives users p-value 0.035. While other factors have no statistically significant effect like age p-value 0.506, socioeconomic state p-value 0.779, and level of education p-value 0.986. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of Chlamydia infection is low among the population in the central areas of Basra city compare to other countries. Being infertile or of high parity are among the significant risk factors. Barrier contraceptives significantly reduced the risk of infection and can be used to protect against the transmission of infection.

Highlights

Chlamydia Trachomatis is the most common bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) worldwide, about 100 million cases of Chlamydia Trachomatis are detected annually worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO)
Among 500 patients 60% of them were from the age group 20-40 year, 62% were P2-4 and 89% from multipara and grand multipara, 60% were illiterate and 38% were having primary and secondary school, 61% from low socioeconomic class, nonusers of contraception were 23.7% and about 90% of patients were living at the central areas of Basra
The prevalence rate of Chlamydia infection is low among the population in the central areas of Basra city compare to other countries

Summary

Introduction

Chlamydia Trachomatis is the most common bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) worldwide, about 100 million cases of Chlamydia Trachomatis are detected annually worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the united states alone, approximately 1.4 million Chlamydia infections occurred in 2013 [1,2]. Chlamydia is known as the “silent epidemic”, as in women it may not cause any symptoms in 70-80% of cases and can remain for months or years before being discovered [3]. Residents based data from the united states, Australia, and the united kingdom guide that between 3 and 5% of people under 30 years of age will have a Chlamydia infection at any point in time [4,5,6,7,8]. In other studies in Ethiopia, the prevalence rate for Chlamydia infection of the cervix was 5.9%. The incidence of Chlamydia infections in women has augmented extremely from 79 to 467 per 100,000 between 1987 and 2003 [13]

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