PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR CHLAMYDIA INFECTION AMONG INFERTILE WOMEN IN A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HEALTH CENTRE

*Dr. Nasir Asma’u Muhammad, Prof. Panti Abubakar A., Prof. Nwobodo Emmanuel I., Dr. Mohammad Yahaya, Dr. Imam Mustapha Umar, Dr. Bello Saratu and Dr. Zubairu Saa

ABSTRACT

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the commonest bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the world. This can cause salpingitis and pelvic inflammatory disease which may lead to infertility due to tubal obstruction. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Chlamydia infection among infertile women in a tertiary health centre in North western Nigeria. Materials and method: This was a cross-sectional study among infertile women presenting at the Gynaecology clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information. Blood sample was obtained and subjected to the ELISA procedure using IgG kit. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) Chi square was used to determine association between categorical variables. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection obtained from this study was 45%. The prevalence by age showed highest prevalence among the participants aged 35 and above. However, there was no significant association between age and chlamydia infection (Fischer exact test = 8.81, p value = 0.317). The chlamydia infection was more among the participants in polygamous family setting but the difference was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.879, p = 0.762). There was no significant relationship between the number of sexual partners and type of contraceptive use with positive Chlamydia trachomatis test among the participants. Conclusion: The prevalence of Chlamydia infection among those with infertility was high. It is more among those 35 years and above and those in polygamous setting.

Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis, risk factors, infertility.