Prevalence and risk factors of chlamydia infection in Hong Kong: A population-based geospatial household survey and testing
Creators
- 1. University of Hong Kong
- 2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 3. University of Chicago
- 4. Guangdong Provincial Centers for Skin Diseases and STI Control
- 5. Hong Kong Government
- 6. Hong Kong Sexual Health Centre
Description
Background: Chlamydia causes infertility and increases risk of HIV infection, and population-based studies provide essential information for effective infection control and prevention. This study examined Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and risk factors among a representative sample of 18-49-year-old residents in Hong Kong.
Methods: Census boundary map of 412 constituency areas was used as primary sampling units to construct the sampling frame and, residential buildings and units were randomly selected using geospatial modelling. A questionnaire on sexual practice and health was conducted, and polymerase chain reaction was used to test the urine for genital chlamydial infection. Invitation letters were sent to the selected households and a team of interviewers were sent to recruit one subject per household. Prevalence data was weighted according to the 2011 census and risk factors identified through logistic regression.
Results: Among 881 participants (response rate of 24.5%), the overall Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence was low at 1.4% (95%CI 0.8–2.5%) but sexually active young (18–26 years) women had relatively high prevalence (5.8%, 95%CI 1.7–18.2%) in Hong Kong. A unique U-shape disease burden was observed with peaks in younger and older (40–49 years) women. Amongst the sexually active women, the risk factors of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were: younger age (aOR = 25.4, 95% CI 2.81–230); living alone (aOR = 8.99, 95% CI 1.46–55.40); and, among all the sexually active participants, males (including the male partners of the female participants) who had travelled out of Hong Kong in the previous 12 months had higher risks of infection (aOR = 5.35; 95% CI 1.25–22.8). A core-peripheral geographical distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence was also observed.
Conclusion: Young and older sexually active women in Hong Kong have high prevalence of chlamydia. Routine screening for sexually active women and young men should be considered. Further research on testing feasibility and linkage-to-care are urgently needed to control the infection.
Data availability
Data cannot be publicly deposited due to the sensitive nature of the study and concerns over the participants’ privacy. The regulation on data confidentiality was from Health and Medical Research Fund (funding agency of this research) and could be found at http://rfs1.fhb.gov.hk/images/HMRF/codeofpraciceondataconfidentially.pdf. Interested researchers can request the data from Dr Richard Collins: Dr Richard Collins Scientific Review Director (Research Office) Contact Information: Food & Health Bureau, Research Fund Secretariat, 9/fl, Rumsey Street Multi-storey Carpark Building, 2 Rumsey Street, Sheung Wan, HK. E-mail: racollins@fhb.gov.hk. Tel: (852) 3150 8983.
Files
journal.pone.0172561.pdf
Files
(1.9 MB)
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
Article md5:6014c154e8ea8578632369f4ec3b601e |
806.8 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:33a2c388b07f0a3152ce0322a86ef3ae
|
1.1 MB | Preview Download |
Additional details
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0172561
- Other
- oai:uchicago.tind.io:6754
Funding
- Health and Medical Research Fund
- 13121242
- Food and Health Bureau
- Hong Kong S.A.R.