Abstract

PREVALENCE OF GENITAL CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN IMO STATE

Nwaehiri U. L., Ozurumba A., Akueshi C.

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Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among women in the developing countries that is of public health concern. The research was carried out to determine the prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis among female students of tertiary institutions in Imo State. The endocervical specimen was collected from five hundred (500) female students of the five tertiary institutions (Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Imo State University Owerri, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo and Federal University of Technology Owerri) in Imo State. The prevalence of C. trachomatis was carried out by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA kit) while C. trachomatis serovars were genotyped by amplifying and sequencing the ompA gene encoding the chlamydial major outer-membrane protein, which is genovar specific. A total of 126 positive isolates were found from the five schools with Federal Polytechnic Nekede and Imo State university Owerri having the highest prevalence. C. trachomatis genovars found were (D-I). High promiscuity and having multiple sexual partners (≥3) was implicated as the reason for the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection. This study revealed the predominant serovars in the various schools, their distribution pattern and precautions to curtail its transmission.

Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis, Genovars, Students, Tertiary institution.