The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among gynaecological patients.

The prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection in the population screened, at All Saints Hospital in Chatham between 1988 and 1990, was 6.3%. The main risk factors for cervical chlamydia infections in gynaecological patients were found to be an age less than 25, low socioeconomic status, and exposure to other sexually transmitted diseases. More research is needed to elucidate the factors that contribute to the differences in sociodemographic characteristics of this disease. Meanwhile it is clear that public health intervention is crucial to its control. The disease is frequently asymptomatic and occurs often in a population that is not seen routinely in standard STD outreach efforts. Furthermore, the chlamydia prone population is only moderately successful at referring sexual partners.