BACKGROUND: The prevalence of genital chlamydial infection is increasing in Norway. The condition is usually asymptomatic, and screening seems to be the best way of finding infected persons. Our aim was to establish the prevalence of genital chlamydial infection among senior high school pupils in a Norwegian municipality and to link individual results with information on sexual behaviour. MATERIAL AND METHOD: All registrated 905 senior high school pupils in Baerum municipality were invited to participate in the study. Health care workers informed all classes about sexually transmitted infections, requested students to participate in the study, distributed anonymized questionnaires and laboratory requistions with containers for urine sampling and collected the urine samples; all on the same day in the different classes. The urinary samples were analysed for Chlamydia trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction. Pupils with positive results were contacted by mobile phone and given treatment and follow-up by the municipal medical officer. RESULTS: 673 (74 %) of 905 invited pupils participated in the study and 571 (63 %) delivered a urine sample. Chlamydia infection was detected in 8 (1.4 %) pupils; 6 (2.2 %) girls and 2 (0.7 %) boys. The prevalence was 2.0 % among the 457 (69 %) who had had sexual intercourse. The sexual debut age was below the age of 17 for 53 % of the pupils. DISCUSSION: This study showed a low prevalence of chlamydia infection among high school pupils, but much sexual activity and limited use of condom. The timing for giving information was therefore regarded as favourable. The participation rate was high, but lower than we had hoped for. Screening for chlamydia among high school pupils in Norway is feasible and may be a valuable tool for limiting the spread of genital chlamydia infections.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of genital chlamydial infection is increasing in Norway. The condition is usually asymptomatic, and screening seems to be the best way of finding infected persons. Our aim was to establish the prevalence of genital chlamydial infection among senior high school pupils in a Norwegian municipality and to link individual results with information on sexual behaviour. MATERIAL AND METHOD: All registrated 905 senior high school pupils in Baerum municipality were invited to participate in the study. Health care workers informed all classes about sexually transmitted infections, requested students to participate in the study, distributed anonymized questionnaires and laboratory requistions with containers for urine sampling and collected the urine samples; all on the same day in the different classes. The urinary samples were analysed for Chlamydia trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction. Pupils with positive results were contacted by mobile phone and given treatment and follow-up by the municipal medical officer. RESULTS: 673 (74 %) of 905 invited pupils participated in the study and 571 (63 %) delivered a urine sample. Chlamydia infection was detected in 8 (1.4 %) pupils; 6 (2.2 %) girls and 2 (0.7 %) boys. The prevalence was 2.0 % among the 457 (69 %) who had had sexual intercourse. The sexual debut age was below the age of 17 for 53 % of the pupils. DISCUSSION: This study showed a low prevalence of chlamydia infection among high school pupils, but much sexual activity and limited use of condom. The timing for giving information was therefore regarded as favourable. The participation rate was high, but lower than we had hoped for. Screening for chlamydia among high school pupils in Norway is feasible and may be a valuable tool for limiting the spread of genital chlamydia infections.