BACKGROUND: Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmissible infection (STI) in Singapore, with rising incidence.
METHOD: Random sampling was performed on all chlamydia-positive samples collected from female patients who attended a women's clinic from January 2010 to December 2010. Some 250 electronic medical records were analysed. Population demographics, sexual histories, symptoms, diagnostic methods and management were recorded.
RESULTS: One hundred and forty-two (56.8%) patients were under 25 years of age. The predominant race diagnosed with Chlamydia cervicitis were Chinese (116 cases, 46.4%) followed by 86 (34.4%) Malays and 20 (8%) Filipinos. Sixty-three (25.2%) were skilled workers and (47) 18.8% were students. Professionals and office workers together formed 68 (27.2%) of the patients. Some 248 (99.2%) patients were heterosexual and 2 (0.8%) patients were bisexual; 229 (91.6%) patients had regular partners, 18 (7.2%) had casual partners and 3 (1.2%) had both. Concurrency prevalence accounted for 49 cases (19.6%) and condom use was less common. Patients were generally asymptomatic, with 114 (45.5%) presenting with symptoms. One hundred and eight (43.2%) patients had 2-5 sexual partners in their lifetime. Patients with a termination made up 12% of our cohort. This episode of infection was the first diagnosis of an STI for 198 (79.2%) patients; 24 (9.6%) of patients had been previously diagnosed with chlamydia.
CONCLUSION: Chlamydia infection was most prevalent in skilled workers and their regular partners with heterosexual practices under 25 years old. Most patients had 2-5 sexual partners and did not use condoms consistently or at all.