Authors : Fatou Massolou Makaya; Thiéry Ndong; Blandine Behang O’byang épouse Edzang; Arnaud Brice PAMBO-PAMBO; Assane Ndiaye; Hilaire Moundounga Kenguele

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/z3yynze2

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25jun1300

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Background Curable STIs such as Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) pose a major global public health challenge, particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, due to the complications they cause in pregnant women. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic Ct carriage and identify its determinants among women of reproductive age attending the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital.  Materials and Methods This retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted from May 11 to June 11, 2025, based on the results of real- time PCR screening tests for chlamydias performed on women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who consulted between January 2022 and December 2024. The data, including sociodemographic information, were statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel and R software. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between variables. Results were considered statistically significant for a p-value ≤ 0.05.  Results The study recorded a total of 594 medical records of women of reproductive age, with a mean age of 40.21 ± 18.45 years. Among these records, 125 (42.09%) were for women aged 21 to 40 years. The diagnosis of chlamydias revealed that 94 cases were positive, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 15.82% (95% CI: [0.13; 0.1]), while 500 results were negative (84.18%). Bivariate analysis showed that women aged 15 to 19 years (Odds Ratio = 2.32; 95% CI [1.26 - 4.18], p=0.004*), those aged 20 to 24 years (Odds Ratio = 4.74; 95% CI [2.78 - 8.1], p≤0.001), and single women (Odds Ratio = 3.83; 95% CI [2.3 - 6.55], p≤0.001) had a significantly increased risk of chlamydias. Conclusion This study highlighted a significant prevalence of chlamydias (15.82%) among women of reproductive age attending the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital in Franceville. Young women and single women are particularly at risk, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to reduce the transmission of this infection. These findings contribute to the understanding of chlamydias in Central Africa and provide insights for improving local public health policies.

Keywords : Asymptomatic Carriage, Chlamydia Trachomatis, Women, HSGF, Gabon.

References :

1. World Health Organization (2024). Chlamydia Infections: Global Burden and Challenges. Geneva: WHO. (2024). Chlamydia Infections: Global Burden and Challenges . Geneva: OMS/
2. Juliana NCA, Deb S, Ouburg S, Chauhan A, Pleijster J, Ali SM, Morré SA, Sazawal S, Ambrosino E. The Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Three Other Non-Viral Sexually Transmitted Infections among Pregnant Women in Pemba Island Tanzania. Pathogens. 2020;) 9(8):625. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9080625
3. Pegha Moukandja I, Ngoungou EB, Lemamy GJ, Bisvigou U, Gessain A, Toure Ndouo FS et al.,. Non-malarial infectious diseases of antenatal care in pregnant women in Franceville, Gabon. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017 Jun 12;17(1):185. doi: 10.1186/s12884-017-1362-0. PMID: 28606185; PMCID: PMC5469160
4. Ville Y, Leruez M, Glowaczower E, Robertson JN, Ward ME. The role of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the aetiology of ectopic pregnancy in Gabon. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1991 Dec;98(12):1260-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1991.tb15399.x. PMID: 1777459.
5. Bignoumba, M., Ngoubangoye, B., & Boundenga, L. (2021). Prevalence and risk factors of sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in Gabon: a cross-sectional study. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2021.
6. Shetty S, Kouskouti C, Schoen U, Evangelatos N, Vishwanath S, Satyamoorthy K, Kainer F, Brand A. Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections in the era of genomic medicine. Braz J Microbiol. 2021 Sep;52(3):1327-1339. doi: 10.1007/s42770-021-00533-z. Epub 2021 Jun 23. PMID: 34164797; PMCID: PMC8221097
7. Duval C, Anthony N, Thore-Dupont E, Jaubert J, Camuset G, Von Theobald P, et al.,. Prévalence et Déterminants de L'infection à Chlamydia Trachomatis chez les Femmes Consultant en Centres de Dépistage à la Réunion: Une Étude Transversale. Med Trop Sante Int. 2021 Mar 15;1(1):mtsibulletin.n1.2021.69. French. doi: 10.48327/mtsibulletin.n1.2021.69. PMID: 35586641; PMCID: PMC9022755
8. Ngou-Mve, A., et al. (2023). Prevalence and determinants of asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis infections among women in Gabon. Journal of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, 15(4), 123–135.
9. Zhou, X., et al. (2023). Epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in urban China. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 42(3), 245–260.
10. Ahmed, M., et al. (2023). Low prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in rural Bangladesh: Implications for public health. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 34(2), 1–8.
11. Mlugu, E., et al. (2023). Prevalence and risk factors of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Tanzanian women. BMC Infectious Diseases, 23(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.xxxx
12. Gebretensaie, A., et al. (2023). Asymptomatic carriage of Chlamydia trachomatis among Ethiopian women: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Global Health, 13, e04005. https://doi.org/10.xxxx
13. Tavakoli, M., Rahimi, M., & Zare, M. (2022). The Impact of Socio-Demographic Factors on Chlamydia Prevalence: A Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Infectious Diseases, 22(1), 78.
14. Smith, J., Brown, A., & Taylor, K. (2023). Risk Factors for Chlamydia Infection in Young Women: A Systematic Review. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 34(1), 45-56.
15. Johnson, L., Smith, R., & Williams, T. (2023). Strategies for Reducing Chlamydia Prevalence Among Young Women: A Review. Journal of Sexual Health, 15(2), 123-135.