A tale of two sexually transmitted diseases. Prevalences and predictors of chlamydia and gonorrhea in women attending Colorado family planning clinics.

BACKGROUND

The comparative prevalences and predictors of chlamydia and gonorrhea have not been studied in the family planning clinic population.

GOALS

To determine the comparative prevalences and predictors of chlamydia and gonorrhea among Colorado family planning clinic patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of public and private family planning clinic patients in Colorado tested for both chlamydia and gonorrhea (n = 12,926).

RESULTS

Among women tested for both infections, the chlamydia prevalence rate was 4.5% and the gonorrhea prevalence rate was 0.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that independent predictors of chlamydia were age younger than 25 years, black or Hispanic race-ethnicity, cervical friability, mucopus, exposure to a sex partner with chlamydia, or multiple recent sex partners. Independent predictors of gonorrhea were age younger than 20 years, black or Hispanic race-ethnicity, or exposure to a sex partner with gonorrhea; adjusted odds ratios for exposure to gonorrhea and black race were the highest for either infection.

CONCLUSIONS

The gonorrhea prevalence rate was very low compared to that of chlamydia in patients at Colorado family planning clinics. Cost-effective gonorrhea testing strategies are needed for this population.