Prevalence of Chlamydia Infection and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Tertiary Health Institutions in Anambra

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are known to cause adverse effect on the health condition of a woman, her ability to conceive and they increase reproductive morbidity. Untreated sexually transmitted infections can lead to poor pregnancy outcomes such as fetal death, premature delivery; premature rupture of the membranes, low birth weight, neonatal pneumonia, mental or physical developmental disabilities. This study aimed to investigate prevalence of chlamydia infection and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal in tertiary health institutions. Descriptive cross sectional study was adopted for this research work. Instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Reliability coefficient of 0.86 was established proving the instrument reliable. Pregnant women from the study areas made up the population, while 231 were drawn as sample using proportionate sampling technique. Data were analyzed with SPSS using mean, percentage and Pearson’s Chi-square. Findings showed that majority of the participants 113(48.9%) fall within the age range of 26 – 35. Of all the participants, 215(93.1%) tested negative for Chlamydia infection, while 16(6.9%) tested positive, indicating low level of Chlamydia infection among the pregnant women in the studied population. Dominant lifestyle factors, major socio demographic and common environmental factors were not associated with prevalence of Chlamydia infection among pregnant women. However, there are significant associations between certain cultural practices like polygamy and wife inheritance (X2 = 8.450, p = 0.004), early marriage (X2 = 5.510, p = 0.019), and freedom of behavior and relationship (X2 = 4.079, p = 0.043). Chlamydia infection seems widespread among pregnant women whose partner engages in certain cultural practices like polygamy, wife inheritance, early marriage and extra marital relationship. This implies that sexual health promotion policy for controlling STIs, specific preventive and intervention strategies for CT should be developed and targeted among the sexually active general population in the community.