Home sampling and pooling of vaginal samples are effective tools for genetic screening of Chlamydia trachomatis among high school female students in Lithuania

• The aims were 1) to estimate the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection among sexually active female students in Kaunas, Lithuania; 2) to investigate the usefulness of personal invitation, self-sampling, and pooling of samples for screening; and 3) to evaluate the costs of the approaches used. A cross-sectional study inviting 795 female students (18–31 y of age) from 7 high schools and 1 college in Kaunas was performed. The response rate was 67% (533/795). Self-obtained vaginal samples were analysed, individually and pooled (n=3), using Digene Hybrid Capture II CT/NG Test. The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 5.6%. Among the sexually active female students 20–24 y of age (n=424), the prevalence was 7.1%; however, the prevalence varied from 0% to 14.2% at the different schools. For estimation of the population prevalence based solely on identification of C. trachomatis positive pools, the pooling strategy reduced the costs by 85%. For estimation of population prevalence and for diagnosis of each individual sample, pooling reduced the costs by 70%. Targeted screening, using pooling to reduce the expenses, mainly of 3rd and 4th y Lithuanian female students could be recommended. By extended personal contact and internet-based communication, increased participation rates may be attained.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Dermatologi och venereologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dermatology and Venereal Diseases (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adolescent

Adult

Chlamydia Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology

Chlamydia trachomatis/genetics/isolation & purification

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Female

Humans

Lithuania/epidemiology

Mass Screening/*methods

Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Prevalence

Self Care/*methods

Sexual Behavior

Specimen Handling

Students

Vaginal Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology/microbiology

Vaginal Smears/methods

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Dermatology and venerology

Dermatologi och venerologi

Dermatology and Venerology

Dermatologi och venereologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)