Evelin Lopez-Corbeto1, Victoria Humet2, M Jesús Leal3, Nuria Teixidó4, Teresa Quiroga5, Jordi Casabona6. 1. Centre d'Estudis Epidemiològics sobre les Infeccions de Transmissió Sexual i Sida de Catalunya (CEEISCAT), Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO), Agencia de Salut Pública de Catalunya (ASPC), Generalitat de Catalunya, Badalona, Barcelona, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, España; Fundació Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, España; Programa de Doctorat en Salut Pública i Metodologia de la Recerca Biomèdica, Departament de Pediatria, d'Obstetrícia i Ginecologia i deMedicina Preventiva i Salut Pública, Universidad Autónoma Barcelona, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: evelin.lopez@gmail.com. 2. Direcció General de Serveis Penitenciaris de Catalunya, Barcelona, España. 3. Centro Penitenciario de Jóvenes de Barcelona, La Roca del Vallès, Barcelona, España. 4. Centro Penitenciario Brians 1, Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Barcelona, España. 5. Centro Penitenciario de Mujeres de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. 6. Centre d'Estudis Epidemiològics sobre les Infeccions de Transmissió Sexual i Sida de Catalunya (CEEISCAT), Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO), Agencia de Salut Pública de Catalunya (ASPC), Generalitat de Catalunya, Badalona, Barcelona, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, España; Fundació Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, España; Departament de Pediatria, d'Obstetrícia i Ginecologia i de Medicina Preventiva i de Salut Pública, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola, Barcelona, España.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Young prisoners have high-risk behaviors and socio-economic insecurity that increases vulnerability for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) acquisition. Monitoring its prevalence will help to reduce infection rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study from a convenience sample of prisoners aged 18-25 years. Urine samples were obtained to determine CT. A standardized and anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the study variables. RESULTS: The overall CT prevalence was 11%, significantly higher in those with less than one year in prison, who also presented higher frequencies in risk behaviors, while these were reduced in those who had been imprisoned for more than a year. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence values obtained give an idea of the concentration of the population vulnerable to this disease in prisons and underscore the need to continue programs for the prevention and control of sexual transmitted infections (STIs). Being imprisoned longer decreased risk behaviors; therefore, it is important to screen for STIs upon admission because they are more likely to be infected and it would be thus possible to influence at that time in sex education because, at that time, risk behaviors occur more commonly, which are most likely done when they were free.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Young prisoners have high-risk behaviors and socio-economic insecurity that increases vulnerability for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) acquisition. Monitoring its prevalence will help to reduce infection rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study from a convenience sample of prisoners aged 18-25 years. Urine samples were obtained to determine CT. A standardized and anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the study variables. RESULTS: The overall CT prevalence was 11%, significantly higher in those with less than one year in prison, who also presented higher frequencies in risk behaviors, while these were reduced in those who had been imprisoned for more than a year. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence values obtained give an idea of the concentration of the population vulnerable to this disease in prisons and underscore the need to continue programs for the prevention and control of sexual transmitted infections (STIs). Being imprisoned longer decreased risk behaviors; therefore, it is important to screen for STIs upon admission because they are more likely to be infected and it would be thus possible to influence at that time in sex education because, at that time, risk behaviors occur more commonly, which are most likely done when they were free.