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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Sexual behaviour of inmates with Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the prisons of Catalonia, Spain

Evelin L. Corbeto A B C H , Dolors Carnicer-Pont A B C , Rossie Lugo A B , Victoria Gonzalez A B D , Elisabet Bascuñana B D , Nuria Lleopart E , Luis Barbero F , Victoria Humet G , Jordi Casabona A B C and Chlamydia Study Group in Catalonia Prisons I
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Center for Epidemiological Studies on HIV/AIDS and STI of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Institut Català d’Oncologia/Health Department, Generalitat de Catalunya, Badalona 08916, Spain.

B Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona 08036, Spain.

C Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.

D Microbiology Service, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona 08916, Spain.

E Trinitat Youth Prison, Justice Department, Generalitat de Catalunya, La Roca de Vallès 08430, Spain.

F Wad-Ras Women’s Prison. Justice Department, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona 08005, Spain.

G Justice Department, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona 08010, Spain.

H Corresponding author. Email: elc.ceescat.germanstrias@gencat.cat

I Members of the Chlamydia Study Group in Catalonia Prisons are E. Torrez, G. Almada, J. Rodriguez, E. Nolasco, L. Matas, N. Romero, R. Muñoz, A. Montoliu and M. Melgares.

Sexual Health 9(2) 187-189 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH11038
Submitted: 3 March 2011  Accepted: 9 May 2011   Published: 30 March 2012

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and high risk factors for acquisition in preventive prisoners in Catalonia. Methods: Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 478 prisoners aged between 18 and 35 years was analysed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect behavioural data. Significant differences were analysed in the descriptive study using Pearson’s χ2. The association between CT and its determinants was analysed using the Mantel–Haenszel test and a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: The overall prevalence of CT was 5.4%. The independent risk factors for infection by CT were as follows: foreign origin, having had concurrent sexual partners, and alcohol consumption. Conclusions: This is the first study performed in prisons of Catalonia that shows the prevalence of CT in young prisoners. The high mobility of young detainees could explain the similarity in prevalence obtained about young people in Catalonia. Systematic monitoring of CT infection in young preventive prisoners is important in order to prevent further problems in themselves and in the general population, since they become a ‘bridge population’ in sexually transmissible infection spreading.

Additional keywords: chlamydia, prevalence, prisoners, sexually transmissible infections, youth.


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