A Tale of Two Sexually Transmitted Diseases

BACKGROUND: The comparative prevalences and predictors of chlamydia and gonorrhea have not been studied in the family planning clinic population. GOALS: To determine the comparative prevalences and predictors of chlamydia and gonorrhea among Colorado family planning clinic patients. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of public and private family planning clinic patients in Colorado tested for both chlamydia and gonorrhea (n = 12,926). RESULTS: Among women tested for both infections, the chlamydia prevalence rate was 4.5% and the gonorrhea prevalence rate was 0.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that independent predictors of chlamydia were age younger than 25 years, black or Hispanic race-ethnicity, cervical friability, mucopus, exposure to a sex partner with chlamydia, or multiple recent sex partners. Independent predictors of gonorrhea were age younger than 20 years, black or Hispanic race-ethnicity, or exposure to a sex partner with gonorrhea; adjusted odds ratios for exposure to gonorrhea and black race were the highest for either infection. CONCLUSIONS: The gonorrhea prevalence rate was very low compared to that of chlamydia in patients at Colorado family planning clinics. Cost-effective gonorrhea testing strategies are needed for this population.