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Retesting young STI clinic visitors with urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the Netherlands; response to a text message reminder and reinfection rates: a prospective study with historical controls
  1. CJG Kampman1,
  2. FDH Koedijk1,
  3. HCM Driessen-Hulshof2,
  4. JLA Hautvast3,
  5. IVF van den Broek4
  1. 1Public Health Service Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
  2. 2Public Health Service West-Brabant, Breda, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboudumc University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  4. 4Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to CJG Kampman, Public Health Service Twente, Postbus 1400, Enschede 7511 JM, The Netherlands; k.kampman{at}ggdtwente.nl

Abstract

Objectives The objective of this study is to assess the effect of reminder text messages 6 months after the initial treatment on retest and chlamydia reinfection rates in young heterosexuals compared with a historical control group and to assess factors associated with both outcomes.

Methods Heterosexual people (aged 16–23 years), testing positive for urogenital chlamydia, were offered a retest after 6 months. Participants received a text message reminder at 6 months after the initial chlamydia diagnosis. Rates of retest uptake and the result of the retest were analysed using Cox regression. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated to identify factors associated with these outcomes. Furthermore, the retest rate was compared with the retest rate of a historical control group.

Results 30.6% (253/838) of the study group returned within 5–8 months compared with 9.2% (140/1530) in the historical control group. Women and persons who were not notified for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) at inclusion were more likely to return for a retest. 20.4% (56/275) of participants had a chlamydia reinfection upon retesting. Reinfection was higher in participants reporting STI-related symptoms (PR 3.2, 95% CI1.8 to 5.6) and in participants who were notified for an STI at retest (PR 5.3, 95% CI 2.4 to 11.5).

Conclusions A text message reminder appeared to have a clear, positive impact on the resulting retest rate. These results also indicate that retesting is necessary to identify chlamydia reinfections.

  • CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS
  • COMMUNITY SERVICES
  • PUBLIC HEALTH
  • ADOLESCENT
  • EPIDEMIOLOGY (GENERAL)

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