Asymptomatic chlamydia during pregnancy

Data were collected by certified nurse midwives during routine antepartum visits for 111 low-income women. There was a significant difference between the incidence of chlamydia n = 25 (22.5%) and gonorrhea n = 2 (1.8%), Z-score = 4.7; p less than .01. If current practices for selective screening were used 19 of the 25 women who had a positive chlamydia would not have been tested. Given the complications associated with chlamydia for women and their offspring, early detection, treatment, and education programs are justified.