Abstract:
Background
Urogenital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis(CT) is one of the most common bacterial
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) world-wide, especially in developing nations where
routine laboratory diagnosis is unavailable. Little is known about the epidemiology of this
infection in Ethiopia where other STIs are prevalent. This study was conducted to determine
the prevalence and associated factors of CT infection among women of reproductive age.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 322 consecutive women aged between 15±
49 years at Hawassa University Referral Hospital from November 2014 to April 2015. Data
on socio-demography and potential risk factors for genital infection were collected using
structured questionnaires. Moreover, endocervical swabs were collected from all participants,
screened for CT antigen using rapid immunochromatography assay, and cultured following
the standard bacteriological method to isolate Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Result
In this study, the overall prevalence of CT antigen and N. gonorrhoeae infection was 61
(18.9%) and 1(0.31%), respectively. Women aged 15±24 years had the highest prevalence
of CT infection (24.2%), followed by those aged 25±34 years (16.8%) and those aged 35±49
years (9.6%). CTinfection was associated with women who had unprotected sex within the
last six months (aOR = 3.459; 95% CI = 1.459±8.222) and were sexually active for 6±10
years (aOR = 3.076; 95% CI = 1.152±8.209). None of the clinical symptoms and diagnoses
was significantly associated with CT antigen positivity.
