Chlamydia trachomatis infection among antenatal women in remote far west New South Wales, Australia
Jo-ann Lenton A , Eleanor Freedman B E , Kristie Hoskin B , Vickie Knight B , Darriea Turley A , Bill Balding A , Catherine Kennedy C , Marcus Y. Chen D and Anna McNulty BA Sexual Health Broken Hill, Greater Western Area Health Service, PO Box 457, Broken Hill, NSW 2880, Australia.
B Sydney Sexual Health Centre, South Eastern and Illawarra Health Service, PO Box 1614, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.
C Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation, PO Box 339, Broken Hill, NSW 2880, Australia.
D School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: Eleanor.freedman@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Sexual Health 4(2) 139-140 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH07010
Submitted: 16 February 2007 Accepted: 5 March 2007 Published: 23 May 2007
Abstract
Background: A prospective, cross-sectional study was undertaken of pregnant women attending antenatal services in the remote far west of New South Wales, Australia, between October 2004 and May 2006. Of 420 eligible women, 218 (52%) participated in the study. Six women (2.7%; 95% CI: 1.0–5.9) tested positive for Chlamydia trachomatis. The prevalence among pregnant, Indigenous women (n = 44) was 9.1% (95% CI: 2.5–21.7). Infection was significantly associated with Indigenous status (P = 0.003) and self-perceived risk for chlamydia (P = 0.05). Pregnant Indigenous women in remote areas may be at higher risk for chlamydia and targeted screening of this group should be considered.
Acknowledgements
We thank ICPMR, Broken Hill and the antenatal staff of the former Far West Area Health Service. MYC is supported by NHMRC Fellowship no. 400399.
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