Risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease in inner-city adolescents

Objective: To determine risk factors associated with pelvic inflammatory di sease (PID) among inner-city adolescents. Study Design: A case-control study was performed from 1994 to 1997 in an in ner-city hospital. Methods: Seventy-one adolescent girls diagnosed with PID and 52 sexually ac tive adolescents girls without PID participated in a confidential face-to-f ace interview using a questionnaire about risk behaviors. Established crite ria were used for the diagnosis of PID. Data were analyzed using a tests, c hi-square tests, and stepwise logistic regression. Results: Persons with PID were significantly more likely to show younger ag e at first intercourse, older sex partners, involvement with a child protec tion agency, prior suicide attempt(s), consumption of alcohol before last s ex, and a current Chlamydia trachomatis infection, There were no significan t differences between the two groups regarding number of lifetime sex partn ers, condom use, rape, syphilis, prior PID, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HI V infection. Conclusions: Not previously noted in the literature are the association of PID with older sex partners, prior involvement in a child protection agency , and a prior suicide attempt. Confirming prior studies are the association of PID with earlier age at first sex, alcohol use, acid C trachomatis infe ction.