rss
Sex Transm Infect 2006;82:142-147 doi:10.1136/sti.2005.016832
  • Chlamydia

Simplifying chlamydia testing: an innovative Chlamydia trachomatis testing approach using the internet and a home sampling strategy: population based study

  1. D P Novak,
  2. R B Karlsson
  1. Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, University of Umeå, SE 901 85 Umeå, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to:
 Roger B Karlsson
 PhD, MD, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, University of Umeå, SE 901 85 Umeå, Sweden; roger.karlsson{at}fammed.umu.se
  • Accepted 3 October 2005

Abstract

Objectives: To measure the coverage, gender distribution, and participants’ prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections using a new internet based self selective testing approach by means of home sampling in the general population in Sweden. To investigate factors associated with these measures.

Methods: Observational survey of people actively ordering coded testing packages, and checking their test results, from a known website. No personal invitations were sent out. All inhabitants (256 885 men and women) in a Swedish county were eligible to participate. A special interest was taken in coverage, gender distribution, participants’ chlamydia prevalence, and determinants for infection.

Results: Testing was highest in the age group 20–24 years, where 298/9495 (3.1%) of all women and 171/9574 (1.8%) of all men in the population participated. The overall population participation (all ages) was 906/256 885 (0.4%). 40% (364/906) of the tests were from men and 60% (542/906) from women. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was 6.0% (95% CI: 3.6% to 8.4%) among male participants and 4.6% (95% CI: 2.8% to 6.4%) among female participants. Prevalence increased with decreasing age. Believing to be infected and having symptoms were the strongest determinants of infection.

Conclusion: Simplifying and increasing the accessibility of chlamydia testing by means of internet and home sampling proved feasible. Self risk assessment improves the chance of finding people infected by Chlamydia trachomatis, especially among men, if an accessible testing method is offered. This new method can serve as a supplement to regular preventive methods and might encourage young people to be tested.

Footnotes

  • See linked commentary on p 152

  • Competing interests: The authors have no competing interests.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.