REASSESSING RISK ASSESSMENT - LIMITS TO PREDICTING REPRODUCTIVE-TRACTINFECTION IN NEW CONTRACEPTIVE USERS

The high costs and technical complexity of testing for reproductive tr act infection make routine screening difficult in resource-poor reprod uctive health service environments. An analysis of 407 women visiting a Brazilian family planning clinic to initiate contraceptive use finds that 35% had reproductive tract infections, with bacterial vaginosis (26%) and chlamydia (7%) the most common types of infection. Only a hi story of sexually transmitted diseases and fewer years of education we re significantly associated with having an infection of the reproducti ve tract However, 95% of infections occurred among women who met neith er of these risk criteria. The findings highlight the need for further research on cost-effective strategies for identifying women at risk f or reproductive tract infection.