A prospective study of genital infections in a family-planning clinic. 2. chlamydia infection - the identification of a high risk group

ABSTRACT

During a study of genital infection in inner-city family-planning patients we examined 452 women for Chlamydia trachomatis. The prevalence of infection was 7.3 percent. There was no significant difference between patients attending because of genital symptoms and those who were attending for routine family-planning advice. Infection was found to be correlated with five main demographic parameters; age less than 25, no stable partnership, hormonal contraception, nulliparity and West Indian Ethnic origin. Using these parameters a simple scoring system was devised which allowed a high-risk population to be defined in whom screening would be economically justified. (AU)