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High rates of chlamydia found among 12- to 16-year-olds attending a rural sexual health clinic: implications for practice

High rates of chlamydia found among 12- to 16-year-olds attending a rural sexual health clinic:... BackgroundChlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed bacterial sexually transmissible infection (STI) and is asymptomatic in ~80% of women. If untreated, potential consequences include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Methods: In 2014, a retrospective audit was undertaken at a rural service to determine what proportion of patients were aged 1216 years, infected with chlamydia and their reasons for attending the clinic. Results: There were 111 patients aged 1216 years attending during 20112014 104 (95%) were female. One hundred and ninety-four chlamydia tests were conducted, with the proportion of patients having at least one test annually being 100% in 2011, 81% in 2012, 72% in 2013 and 78% in 2014. There was no difference in the proportion tested by age during the study (P=0.59). Forty-six tests were positive for chlamydia (23.7% 95%CI: 17.8%, 30.9%) with proportions decreasing with increasing age from 46.7% (95%CI: 16.4%, 79.5%) in 12- or 13-year-olds to 15.5% (95%CI: 9.4%, 24.2%) in 16-year-olds (P=0.02). The reasons for attending when a chlamydia test was ordered included: (i) fear of pregnancy (18.3%, 34/185) (ii) symptoms (16.7%, 31/185) (iii) STI test/treatment (32.4%, 60/185) and (iv) contraception (32.4%, 60/185). Only 29.7% (33/111) would have been tested if symptoms or requesting a test were impetus. Conclusion: Sexually active 12- to 16-year-olds should be tested for chlamydia, and establishing their sexual history is crucial. Amending the current Australian guidelines to annual testing of any sexually active person under the age of 30 years should be considered. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Sexual Health CSIRO Publishing

High rates of chlamydia found among 12- to 16-year-olds attending a rural sexual health clinic: implications for practice

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References (15)

Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s). Published by CSIRO Publishing
ISSN
1448-5028
eISSN
1449-8987
DOI
10.1071/SH15140
pmid
26775010
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

BackgroundChlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed bacterial sexually transmissible infection (STI) and is asymptomatic in ~80% of women. If untreated, potential consequences include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Methods: In 2014, a retrospective audit was undertaken at a rural service to determine what proportion of patients were aged 1216 years, infected with chlamydia and their reasons for attending the clinic. Results: There were 111 patients aged 1216 years attending during 20112014 104 (95%) were female. One hundred and ninety-four chlamydia tests were conducted, with the proportion of patients having at least one test annually being 100% in 2011, 81% in 2012, 72% in 2013 and 78% in 2014. There was no difference in the proportion tested by age during the study (P=0.59). Forty-six tests were positive for chlamydia (23.7% 95%CI: 17.8%, 30.9%) with proportions decreasing with increasing age from 46.7% (95%CI: 16.4%, 79.5%) in 12- or 13-year-olds to 15.5% (95%CI: 9.4%, 24.2%) in 16-year-olds (P=0.02). The reasons for attending when a chlamydia test was ordered included: (i) fear of pregnancy (18.3%, 34/185) (ii) symptoms (16.7%, 31/185) (iii) STI test/treatment (32.4%, 60/185) and (iv) contraception (32.4%, 60/185). Only 29.7% (33/111) would have been tested if symptoms or requesting a test were impetus. Conclusion: Sexually active 12- to 16-year-olds should be tested for chlamydia, and establishing their sexual history is crucial. Amending the current Australian guidelines to annual testing of any sexually active person under the age of 30 years should be considered.

Journal

Sexual HealthCSIRO Publishing

Published: Jan 18, 2016

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