PREVALENCE OF AND RISK-FACTORS FOR CHLAMYDIA IN A RURAL PREGNANT POPULATION

Background. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexuall y transmitted bacterial disease in the United States. Perinatal infect ion with C trachomatis has been associated with preterm labor, preterm rupture of membranes, stillbirth, and both conjunctivitis and pneumon ia in newborns. Little is known about the prevalence of C trachomatis infection in rural pregnant women. Methods. We completed a retrospecti ve chart analysis of 347 obstetric patients in a rural family practice residency training program to determine the prevalence, associated ri sk factors, and screening criteria for cervical C trachomatis infectio n. Results. The prevalence of C trachomatis infection in our study was 9.0%. Factors predictive of a positive test for C trachomatis infecti on included single marital status, African-American race, history of s exually transmit ted diseases, presence of gonorrhea during the curren t pregnancy, age less than 20 years, and late onset of prenatal care. Conclusions. The prevalence of C trachomatis in this rural obstetric p opulation emphasizes the importance of laboratory screening of rural p regnant women for this disease.