title: Prevalence and risk factors of Chlamydia trachomatis cervicitis in pregnant women at the genital tract infection in obstetrics unit care at Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis cervicitis in pregnant women seen at the Genital Tract Infection in Obstetrics Unit Care in Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University - UNESP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2006 and February 2008, 101 pregnant women were included in this study. During the gynecologic examination, cervical secretions were collected using cytobrush Plus GT (CooperSurgical Inc) to assess C. trachomatis using polymerase chain reaction. Vaginal flora were examined by Gram stain, and sociodemographic data were extracted from medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 101 patients, 26 (25.7%) were positive for C. trachomatis. The median age of the infected group was 24 years (range = 13-40 y), and 48.5% of them had abnormal vaginal flora. The presence of chlamydial infection was associated with smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 2.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-7.19), residing in a city with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants (OR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.03-7.94), presence of condyloma acuminatum (p = .03), and presence of discreet inflammation on Pap smear (p = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of C. trachomatis is high in pregnant women seen at the Genital Infection Unit Care, UNESP, and is related to many risk factors. Therefore, its screening is extremely important in reducing obstetrical and neonatal complications.
authors.affiliation: Genital Tract Infection in Obstetrics Unit Care, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Jossimara
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polettini
authors.forename: Larissa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Marcolino
authors.forename: Eliane P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Mariangela A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Andréa R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tristão
authors.forename: Hélio R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Marilza V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rudge
authors.forename: Márcia Guimarães
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult