Prevalence and determinants of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in women from Bogota, Colombia

Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the cervix and uterus has been hypothesised to be a cofactor for cervical cancer. We performed a cross sectional study in Bogota, Colombia, where cervical cancer rates are high, to determine the prevalence and determinants of C trachomatis infection, and in particular its association with human papillomavirus ( HPV). Methods: 1829 low income sexually active women were interviewed and tested for C trachomatis, using an endogenous plasmid PCR- EIA, and for 37 HPV types, using a general primer GP5+/ 6+ mediated PCR-EIA. Results: The overall prevalence of C trachomatis was 5.0%, and it did not differ substantially between women with normal ( 5.0%) and those with abnormal ( 5.2%) cervical cytology. Women infected with any HPV type ( 15.1%) had a slightly increased risk of being simultaneously infected with C trachomatis ( adjusted OR 1.3, 95% CI: 0.8 to 2.4). This association was stronger when multiple HPV infections ( adjusted OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1 to 5.9) were present. No other lifestyle or reproductive characteristics were clearly associated with risk of C trachomatis infection. Conclusions: HPV infected women, particularly women with multiple HPV infections, are at increased risk of being infected with C trachomatis.