Sexually Transmitted Infections in Colombian University Students: Prevalence and Associated Factors of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Autores/as
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Monica Yurley Arias Guerrero
Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación Masira (Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga /Colombia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8819-8175
- Jorge Alexander Silva-Sayag Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación Masira (Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga /Colombia)
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Giovanna Rincón Cruz
Grupo de Inmunología y Epidemiología Molecular (GIEM), Facultad de Salud - Escuela de Microbiología (Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga /Colombia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2518-9981
- Ruth Aralí Martínez Vega Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación Masira (Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga /Colombia)
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Liliana Benitez Díaz
Maestría en Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas (Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga /Colombia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9785-3688
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70099/BJ/2025.02.02.5Palabras clave:
Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, prevalence, university students, sexually transmitted infections, molecular diagnostics, asymptomatic infection, STI screening in youth, Latin America epidemiology, self-collected samplesResumen
Young people comprise a high-risk population for the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are the most common bacterial STIs worldwide. In Colombia, STIs are underreported because epidemiological surveillance programs lack systematic searches for asymptomatic patients. The present study determined the prevalence of CT and NG infections and related factors in students at the Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga campus, Colombia. Methods: Newly admitted students were enrolled between 2019 and 2020. A survey was conducted, and samples of vaginal secretions and male urine were self-collected. PCR was performed to detect pathogens. Results: 190 students aged 18–25 years were included. The prevalence of CT was 7.9% (15/190), and that of NG was 1.05% (2/190). Coinfections were not observed. In women, the prevalence of CT was 8.06%, and NG was not detected; in men, the prevalence of CT and NG was 7.58% and 3.03%, respectively. Ten percent reported never using condoms or having more than one partner simultaneously. Knowledge about CT and NG was poor in 90% and 76.8% of participants. Factors associated with higher prevalence of CT or NG infection were socioeconomic status (aPR 3.07, 95%CI 1.19-7.91) and urinary burning (aPR 3.63, 95%CI 1.12-11.8), while having a steady partner was associated with lower prevalence of infection (aPR 0.27; 95%CI 0.08-0.94). Conclusions: The prevalence of CT and NG was higher than that reported in previous studies on university students in Colombia. Therefore, it is necessary to implement surveillance programs and focus on preventive strategies to avoid health problems.
Citas
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