Original scientific paper
Prevalence of Chlamydial Genital Infection and Associated Risk Factors in Adolescent Females at an Urban Reproductive Health Care Center in Croatia
Vlasta Hiršl-Hećej
Nives Pustišek
Nives Šikanić-Dugić
Luka Mislav Domljan
Dubravka Kani
Abstract
The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of chlamydial genital infection in sexually active, urban adolescent
females 15–19 years; to identify behavioral, demographic, and clinical factors associated with chlamydial infections;
and to develop criteria for potential screening strategies. 500 adolescent women, median age 17.7 years, who visited
gynecological outpatient clinic in Children’s Hospital Zagreb for different reasons were enrolled in this study. Gynecological
exam, colposcopy, detection of chlamydial infection by the rapid direct immunoassay of endocervical swab (Clearview
Chlamydia – Unipath), endocervical cytological examination – Papanicolaou smear, and questionnaire to obtain
demographic, social, behavioral and presence of symptoms data were performed. Positive Chlamydia trachomatis test
were found in 16.4% of participants, cytologic cervical abnormalities – cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I – CIN
III) were found in 25.2% and cytological signs of Human papilloma virus were found in 11.4%. Stepwise multivariate logistic
regression analysis identified five factors associated with infection: the age of menarche 13 years, 4 lifetime sexual
partners, non-use of contraception (rare or never), cervical friability, and abnormal Papanicolaou test. Urban adolescent
sexually active women are at high risk for chlamydial infection and other sexually transmitted diseases including
HIV infection. Association between chlamydial genital infection and risk-taking sexual and contraceptive behavior was
found. Routine Chlamydia trachomatis testing for this population is recommended as well as implementation of school
based sexual health education because of their risk-taking sexual behavior.
Keywords
adolescents; Chlamydia trachomatis; sexually transmitted diseases
Hrčak ID:
27702
URI
Publication date:
25.4.2006.
Visits: 975 *