The risk of women in Manitoba acquiring pelvic inflammatory disease from one or more episodes of genital Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections
Date
2004
Authors
Wuskynyk, Dawn L.
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Abstract
The association between being infected with the sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae and developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is supported in the literature. Research also demonstrates an association between repeat infections with chlamydia or gonorrhea and acquiring PID. While there is some information from Canada on this topic, the majority of the research is from the United States and abroad. Additionally, there are few studies that have been able to examine the risk of acquiring PID utilizing a prospective study design. The purpose of this study is to identify the risk of women in Manitoba acquiring PID from one or more episodes of genital chlamydia or gonorrhea. The length of time following a genital chlamydial or gonococcal infection where PID develops is explored. Obtaining information on the risks of acquiring PID, among women in Manitoba with genital chlamydia or gonorrhea, has important policy implications such as early detection and screening of STIs, treatment procedures, partner notification and contact tracing. A surveillance system framework was used to guide the study. The data were acquired by linking administrative databases from Cadham Provincial Laboratory and Manitoba Health. Three cohorts of women were chosen, based on their history of testing positive or negative for STIs. Quantitative data analysis was completed through the use of the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) program. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions were completed for each variable to become familiar with the data. Since this is a cohort study, incidence rates and measures of association, such as the relative risk, were completed. Tests of statistical significance were also calculated. Study findings indicate that l5 - 24 year old women, in Manitoba with documented infections of genital...