Opportunistic screening for chlamydia infection in general practice: can we reach young women?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study opportunistic screening in primary care, in such a way that would include teenage women. Setting-Screening for chlamydia infection was offered opportunistically in eight general practices in Edinburgh to women aged < or = 35 years attending for cervical smear, and women aged < or = 20 years attending for contraception. The numbers of women eligible to be offered screening were 901 in the cervical smear group, and 595 in the contraception group.

RESULTS:

Effective screening rate (offered test, consented, and urine sample returned) was 30% for the cervical smear group compared with 23% for the contraception group. Among those tested, chlamydia prevalence was strongly associated with young age, ranging from 11.8% in those <18 years, to 0% in those >25 years. Number of sexual partners in past year did not improve prediction of infection.

CONCLUSION:

These findings raise concerns regarding the feasibility of opportunistic screening in general practice, particularly for those with highest prevalence of chlamydia--teenage women.

• Authors: M Santer, P Warner, S Wyke, S Sutherland
• Journal: Journal of medical screening (J Med Screen) Vol. 7 Issue 4 Pg. 175-6 ( 2000) ISSN: 0969-1413 [Print] England
• PMID: 11202582 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Chlamydia Infections (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Contraception
• Family Practice
• Female
• Humans
• Mass Screening (methods)
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Sexual Partners
• United Kingdom (epidemiology)
• Vaginal Smears