Risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease in inner-city adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine risk factors associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) among inner-city adolescents.


METHODS
A case-control study was performed from 1994 to 1997 in an inner-city hospital.


METHODS
Seventy-one adolescent girls diagnosed with PID and 52 sexually active adolescents girls without PID participated in a confidential face-to-face interview using a questionnaire about risk behaviors. Established criteria were used for the diagnosis of PID. Data were analyzed using t tests, chi-square tests, and stepwise logistic regression.


RESULTS
Persons with PID were significantly more likely to show younger age at first intercourse, older sex partners, involvement with a child protection agency, prior suicide attempt(s), consumption of alcohol before last sex, and a current Chlamydia trachomatis infection. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding number of lifetime sex partners, condom use, rape, syphilis, prior PID, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Not previously noted in the literature are the association of PID with older sex partners, prior involvement in a child protection agency, and a prior suicide attempt. Confirming prior studies are the association of PID with earlier age at first sex, alcohol use, and C trachomatis infection.
Suss
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Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, 11203, USA.
Homel
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P
Hammerschlag
M
M
Bromberg
K
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D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population