title: Genital Chlamydia trachomatis Infection among Women of Reproductive Age Attending the Gynecology Clinic of Hawassa University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urogenital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis(CT) is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) world-wide, especially in developing nations where routine laboratory diagnosis is unavailable. Little is known about the epidemiology of this infection in Ethiopia where other STIs are prevalent. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated factors of CT infection among women of reproductive age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 322 consecutive women aged between 15-49 years at Hawassa University Referral Hospital from November 2014 to April 2015. Data on socio-demography and potential risk factors for genital infection were collected using structured questionnaires. Moreover, endocervical swabs were collected from all participants, screened for CT antigen using rapid immunochromatography assay, and cultured following the standard bacteriological method to isolate Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, the overall prevalence of CT antigen and N. gonorrhoeae infection was 61(18.9%) and 1(0.31%), respectively. Women aged 15-24 years had the highest prevalence of CT infection (24.2%), followed by those aged 25-34 years (16.8%) and those aged 35-49 years (9.6%). CTinfection was associated with women who had unprotected sex within the last six months (aOR = 3.459; 95% CI = 1.459-8.222) and were sexually active for 6-10 years (aOR = 3.076; 95% CI = 1.152-8.209). None of the clinical symptoms and diagnoses was significantly associated with CT antigen positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of genital CT infection in this study highlights the need for further large-scale studies on the general population. Thus, screening of women regardless of their symptoms should be in place.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Endale
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.affiliation: Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Million
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teshome
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Anteneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amsalu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Techalew
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimelis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012098:Reproduction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult