Correlation of chlamydiatrachomatis infection with tubalblockage among infertile women attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Genital Chlamydia trachomatis is a common bacterial cause of sexually transmitted infection worldwide which is associated with significant morbidity and has a great impact on human reproduction and fertility. Infertility is a major health problem in Nigeria with a prevalence of between 20, -40% compared with global prevalence of 15%.
Objective: To correlate genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection with tubal blockage among infertile women and to compare with women attending family planning clinic in AKTH.
Materials and Methods: This is a cross sectional prospective study that was carried out among 142 women with tubal infertility attending the gynaecological clinic and 142 fertile women from family planning clinic of AKTH. Endocervical swab and blood samples were collected and tested using Eugene Chlamydial Rapid test Device and ELISA IgG Chlamydia antibody kits following manufacturer’s instruction.
Results: The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis IgG antibodies in infertile women was 63(44.4%) while among the family planning women is 40(28.2%) and that of the Chlamydia trachomatis antigen is 21(14.8%) in the infertile women and 7( 4.9%) in the control group. These differences were found to be statistically significant when compared (X2=8.059, P<0.05, X2=7.766, P<0.05). The prevalence of the Chlamydia trachomatis IgG antibodies was highest (33.0%) among age group 25-29years; while that of the antigen was highest (39.2%) among age group 30-34 years of the study population.
Conclusion: The study showed that the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was higher among women with infertility. There is need for routine screening of Chlamydia trachomatis in sexual transmitted infection clinics to prevent infertility.