title: Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic Brazilian military conscripts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few data are available on the prevalence and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection among young men in Brazil.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess prevalence and risk factors for C. trachomatis infection in male military conscripts.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2000, 627 young men recruited for military service in Goiania, Goias, Brazil, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a demographic and sexual risk behavior questionnaire, and urine samples were screened for C. trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of chlamydial infection among asymptomatic conscripts was 5.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3-7.3). In multivariate analysis, failure to use condoms (odds ratio [OR](adjusted) 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-23.4; P = 0.028) and having more than 2 sexual partners in the last 2 months (OR(adjusted) 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-6.9; P = 0.049) were significantly associated with positivity for C. trachomatis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial number of asymptomatic young male military recruits were infected with C. trachomatis, and risk factors for this infection were related to sexual behavior. Further research is required to determine if routine screening may be considered as a strategy to reduce prevalence among this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia Cristina Resende
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Fioravante
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Costa Alves
authors.forename: Eleuse Machado de Britto
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Marília Dalva
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Turchi
authors.forename: Heitor Alarico G
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Ludmilla Thomé
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Domingos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index