The Prevalence of Chlamydia Infection among Preg- Nant Women in Iran: an Immunofluorescens Study

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common and spoiling sexually transmitted diseases in different countries. It plays an important role in disease such as salpingitis and arthritis, crevicitis, premature rupture of membrane, neonatal infection while passing through the vaginal, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of Chlamydia infection among the pregnant women who were referred to one the prenatal clinics of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This research included 400 pregnant women who had been selected by a two stage program from the women referring to perinatal care clinics of Tehran University of medical Sciences. The mean for gathering data was a questionnaire contained demographical and socioeconomic questions. Samples of cervical discharge and serum examined by direct immunofluorescence and microimmunofluorescence techniques. The prevalence of Chlamydia infection among women referring to these perinatal care clinics was about 2.75 percent. Among 400 samples of cervical discharge examined by microimmunofluorescence technique, IgG and secretory IgA titers 1>8 were found in 8 women (2%) indicating active infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. The results showed that variables like the age of marriage, history of vaginal discharge, dysuria, and education are related to the prevalence of Chlamydia infection in women. According to the results, Chlamydia infections are common among the pregnant women, therefore it was suggested that all of the women high risk for Chlamydia infection should be screened during pregnancy.