Title
Generation C: Prevalence of and risk factors for chlamydia trachomatis among adolescents and young women in Lima, Peru
Date Issued
01 September 2009
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: Adolescent and young adult women in urban, socioeconomically disadvantaged areas are at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We assessed associations of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection with both traditional STI risk factors, and partner and partnership-related factors among low-income women in Lima, Peru, by age group. Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis of CT infection among 1290 postpartum women, cervical swabs were collected for CT polymerase chain reaction (PCR) within 48h after delivery, and a structured interview was completed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors for CT, with separate models stratified by age: adolescents (12-19 years), young women (20-24 years), and older women (≥25 years). Results: CT was detected in 9.6% of adolescents, 9.0% of young women, and 5.4% of older women (p= 0.03). Among adolescents, history of drug use (odds ratio [OR] =5.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-30.6) and short duration of current partnership (OR= 2.6, 95% CI 1.14-5.93) were the strongest predictors of CT infection. Among young women, younger age at coitarche (OR= 0.74 for each year older, 95% CI 0.60-0.91) and low income (OR =2.40, 95% CI 1.04-5.55) were associated with CT, while self-report of ever using condoms was protective (OR= 0.22, 95% CI 0.08-0.61). Among older women, only younger age at coitarche was related to CT (OR=0.85, 95% CI 0.75-0.97). Conclusions: Risk factors for CT among women in Lima, Peru, differed for adolescents, young women, and older women, which may reflect differences in biology and/or immunology of CT as well as variability in the occurrence of specific risk behaviors by age group. © 2009 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Start page
1419
End page
1424
Volume
18
Issue
9
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Obstetricia, Ginecología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-70349197833
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Women's Health
ISSN of the container
15409996
Sponsor(s)
Fogarty International Center - D43TW000007
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus