Non-invasive screening of teenagers for Chlamydia trachomatis in a family planning setting

Abstract

One hundred women aged 20 or younger attending two family planning clinics specifically targeting teenagers were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis using first void urine specimens. An overall prevalence of 6.2 per cent was found, but there was a marked difference between women attending a city centre site (three per cent) and those attending a clinic in a small rural town.

PIP: Responsible for a significant proportion of all cases of pelvic inflammatory disease, Chlamydia trachomatis has been described as the most common treatable sexually transmitted infection in the developed world. Findings are presented from a study conducted to estimate the prevalence of chlamydial infection among young women under age 21 years attending 2 specialized family planning/sexual health clinics in Lothian, by using a urine test. One clinic was in the city at Dean Terrace Center, while the second clinic was a peripheral family planning clinic in a small West Lothian rural town approximately 15 miles from Edinburgh. 100 women aged 20 years or younger attending the 2 clinics specifically targeting teenagers were screened for infection with Chlamydia trachomatis using first void urine specimens. The overall prevalence of infection was 6.2%, 3% at Dean Terrace Center and 12.5% in the peripheral clinic, a statistically significant difference. All 6 women infected with Chlamydia were asymptomatic, nulliparous, and with no prior history of sexually transmitted disease. None of the 6 women were consistent users of condoms. Further research examining peripheral clinic settings in West Lothian is currently underway.