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Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in adolescents in Northern Italy: an observational school-based study.
- Source :
-
BMC Public Health . 2/29/2016, Vol. 16 Issue 1, p1-8. 8p. 1 Diagram, 3 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>We carried out a study to evaluate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae genital infections in school-based adolescents in Northern Italy.<bold>Methods: </bold>Systematic screening for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae genital infection was performed in 13th grade students in the province of Brescia, an industrialized area in Northern Italy. Student filled in a questionnaire on sexual behaviour and provided a urine sample for microbiological testing.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 2,718 students (mean age: 18.4 years; 59.1% females) provided complete data (62.2% of those eligible). Overall 2,059 students (75.8%) were sexually active (i.e. had had at least one partner), and the mean age at sexual debut was 16.1 years (SD: 1.4). Only 27.5% of the sexually active students reported regular condom use during the previous 6 months, with higher frequency in males than in females (33.8% vs 24.2%). No case of N. gonorrhoeae infection was detected, while C. trachomatis was found in 36 adolescents, with a prevalence of 1.7% (95% CI: 1.2-2.4) among sexually active students, and no statistical difference between females and males (1.9 and 1.4%, respectively). Inconsistent condom use (odds ratio, OR = 5.5) and having had more than one sexual partner during the previous 6 months (OR = 6.8) were associated with an increased risk of Chlamydia infection at multivariate analysis.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection among sexually active adolescents in Northern Italy was low, despite a high proportion of students who engage in risky sexual behaviour. No cases of N. gonorrhoeae infection were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *CHLAMYDIA trachomatis
*NEISSERIA gonorrhoeae
*DISEASES in teenagers
*PUBLIC health
*MEDICAL microbiology
*COLLEGE students' sexual behavior
*MULTIVARIATE analysis
*DISEASE risk factors
*CHLAMYDIA infections
*CONDOMS
*GONORRHEA
*MEDICAL screening
*NEISSERIA
*RISK-taking behavior
*SCHOOLS
*HUMAN sexuality
*STUDENTS
*DISEASE prevalence
*SEXUAL partners
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712458
- Volume :
- 16
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- BMC Public Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 113448415
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2839-x