Chlamydia trachomatis infection among sexually active young women in Italy. Issue 4 (1st August 2002)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Latino, M A; Bello, L; Lanza, A; Leotta, E; Tersiev, P; De Intinis, G; Spagnolo, E; Smirne, C; Grio, R
• Is Part Of: Sexually transmitted infections. Volume 78:Issue 4(2002)
• Page Start: e4
• Page End: e4
• Publication Date: 2002-08-01
• Subjects: women -- adolescents -- Chlamydia trachomatis; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Periodicals; 616.951005
• DOI: 10.1136/sti.78.4.e4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4973

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease among sexually active adolescents and young adults in Europe. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of C trachomatis among young women in Turin, Italy, and the correlation between some risk factors and C trachomatis infection. Methods: In our study 3314 sexually active women between the ages of 14 and 25 were screened for C trachomatis by ligase chain reaction (LCR) using cervical swabs during the period 1997–2000 at the Turin School of Medicine. All the patients answered a specific questionnaire. Results: In our analysis the prevalence of C trachomatis infection was found to be 3.5%, and the average age among the infected patients was 22.12 years. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ 2 test. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. A correlation was found between a positive result and: membership of east European and central northern Africa populations (p<0.001), low levels of education (p<0.001), age at the first intercourse (p=0.006), the presence of symptoms in the women (p<0.001), and the number of sexual partners in the preceding 6 months (p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found among the contraceptive methods used whether hormonal or a barrier type and with the subjective symptoms of the partner. Conclusion: Frequent microbiological examinations are desirable for patients whose anamnesis shows an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections in order to avoid long term complications from misdiagnosed or asymptomatic pathologies; this often happens with C trachomatis infection.