International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 19, Number 1 > Pp. 26-29

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and associated risk factors in women inmates admitted to a youth offenders institute in the UK

G Gabriel FRCP ^* , T Burns SEN , R Scott-Ram MSc , R Adlington MRCP  and L Bansi MSc ^¶

^* Women's Health Clinic, HMP Holloway, London, UK; Marlborough Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA; Mortimer Market Centre, London, UK; ^¶ Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Hampstead Campus, London, UK

Correspondence to: Dr. Gabriel Gabriel, Marlborough Department of STI'S, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, UK Email: gabriel.gabriel{at}royalfree.nhs.uk

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections in young women inmates aged 17–21 located on the Youth Offenders Institute of HMP Holloway. The study consisted of a questionnaire and a urine sample for analysis. A health advisor administered a questionnaire to establish sociodemographic profile, sexual history and illicit drug use. C. trachomatis was diagnosed using a nucleic acid amplification test. Overall, the prevalence of C. trachomatis was 13.2%. Drug use was common with 41.2% using crack cocaine and 17.3% using intravenous heroin. A majority (80.2%) reported not using condoms during the last sexual encounter and 62.6% had a history of a previous pregnancy. Over half (53.3%) had a previous sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and 74.7% had never been previously diagnosed with a STI. Sexual health programmes in prisons should include screening as well as education about STI risk reduction and drug prevention.

Key Words: Chlamydia trachomatis • prevalence • STD risk • young women • prison

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