MATERNAL GENITAL CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS INFECTION AND THE RISK OF PRETERM LABOR

Objective: To determine the association between maternal genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy and the risk of preterm labor. The hypothesis tested was that a greater proportion of women experiencing preterm labor would have Chlamydia trachomatis than controls who were not experiencing preterm labor. Methods: A case-control study in Yaounde (Cameroon), involving 126 women of gestational age between 28 and 34 weeks, using serology and cervical swab cultures. Data analysis involved simple comparative descriptive statistics as well as univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The odds of experiencing preterm labor and having genital chlamydial infection were 72.59 (exact 95% C.I. 0.99-7.14); O.R.(MH) (Mantel-Haenszel) 2.80 (approximate 95% C.I. 1.13-6.97) using serological tests. The proportion of women with positive cervical swab cultures was statistically significantly different between cases and controls (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.02). Conclusion: Routine screening and treatment of pregnant women with Chlamydia trachomatis (along with their partners) may be beneficial in reducing the incidence of preterm labor and delivery and hence the perinatal mortality rate.