Occurrence of Chlamydial Infection Based on Clinical Symptoms and Clinical History among Pregnant Women Attending Clinics in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis also known as the “Silent Epidemic” is a major threat to the reproductive health of women in Africa. This study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis based on clinical symptoms and clinical history among women attending clinics in Zaria metropolis, Kaduna State. Each participant completed a researcher-devised questionnaire and quasi design was used in the selection of hospitals. Subsequently about 5mls of peripheral blood for serological analysis was obtained after informed consent. Presence of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis was determined using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to detect IgG. Out of the two hundred and seventy (270) samples collected, 32(11.9%) were positive for Chlamydia trachomatis IgG of the total population. There was no significant association between chlamydial infection and based on clinical symptoms. Hence, there is an urgent need for a national policy on routine screening for Chlamydia trachomatis as treatment is cheap and effective, while the attendant morbidity resulting from delayed diagnosis is more difficult to manage and associated with severe sequelae.