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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Feb;311(2):529-542.
doi: 10.1007/s00404-024-07928-x. Epub 2025 Jan 17.

The global prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in pregnant women: a meta-analysis

Nader Salari  1 , Newsha Olfat  2 , Hooman Ghasemi  3 , Mozhdeh Larti  4 , Mahan Beiromvand  2 , Masoud Mohammadi  5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The global prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in pregnant women: a meta-analysis

Nader Salari et al. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infections with severe detrimental effects on pregnant women and fetuses. CTGI increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, exogenous fetal infection, and respiratory complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia. According to the different published reports, this systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to evaluate the global prevalence of CTGI in pregnant women.

Methods: Initial searching was applied using valid databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, WoS, Scopus, and Google Scholar using MeSH keywords (by October 2023). Following duplicate detection and data exclusion, the Title and Abstract of other remaining papers were evaluated (primary screening). Full-texts of selected papers were assessed (secondary screening) and eligible studies were included for data extraction (total No of investigated pregnant women and the number of positive cases). The PRISMA approach was used for paper selection, and the quality assessment was determined according to the STROBE checklist. Data meta-analysis, heterogeneity, publication bias, and the factors affecting heterogeneity index were analyzed using CMA software. The findings were presented in the Forest Plot diagram and Static tables. Besides, heterogeneity was analyzed using I2 test and diffusion bias was demonstrated in Funnel Plot.

Results: Among 1061 selected articles, 44 eligible investigations were enrolled for meta-analysis. The global prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis genital infection (CTGI) was found 8.4% (95% CI 5.8 - 12.1). Meta-regression analysis showed that following the increase in sample size and year of paper publication, the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in pregnant women decreased significantly (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The global prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in pregnant women is considerably influenced by some interfering factors including Age, Socioeconomic status, Geographic region, and Individual behaviors. Thus, the implementation of more comprehensive health programs for prevention, screening, and treatment seems necessary, especially for high-risk pregnant cases.

Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis; Genital Infection; Pregnant; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethical approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The flowchart representing the stages of paper selection based on the inclusion/exclusion (PRISMA 2009)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot diagram representing the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in pregnant women based on the Random Effect Model
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Funnel plot diagram representing the standard error by logit event rate
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Meta-regression of the effect of sample size on the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in pregnant women
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Meta-regression of the effect of year of paper publication on the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in pregnant women
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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