Abstract

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) are two of the major causes of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in many countries. There is little information about the prevalence of STIs in Zanjan Province of Iran. This study determines the prevalence of CT and NG cervical infection in women visitors of gynecology and obstetrics clinics in Zanjan. In this descriptive study, three hundred and twenty eight vaginal samples were collected from women referred to gynecology and obstetrics clinics in Zanjan, Iran from 1 to 29 April, 2009. NG was diagnosed by direct Gram staining and inoculation on modified Thayer Martin (MTM) agar with final identification, using commercial API NH kit and CT. This was done measuring serum IgM antibodies to C. trachomatis by commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Prevalence of recent chlamydia and gonorrhea cervical infections at enrollment was 10.3 and 0.9%, respectively. Among sexual risk behaviors, only education was significantly associated with incident of CT. Variables not associated with the risk of CT cervical infection included age, method of contraception and number of sexual partners. These findings emphasize conduction of comprehensive and scheduled program of prevalence survey, aimed at reducing prevalence rate of STIs in the entire Zanjan.

Key word: Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prevalence.