Prevalence of Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections and Sexual Behavior in University Students in Korea

Lee, Seung Ju; Ha, U Syn; Kim, Sae Woong; Cho, Yong Hyun; Yoon, Moon Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to define the prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections and the status of sexual risk behavior among university students (18-25 years old) in the Capital region of Korea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire related to sexuality. First-void urine was analyzed for chlamydial and gonococcal infection by strand displacement amplification (BDProbTec(TM) ET, BD Diagnostic Systems, MD USA).
RESULTS
A total of 622 students from 15 colleges within 3 universities took part in the study. Their median age was 21, with 39.1% reporting having sexual intercourse at least once. The prevalence of C. trachomatis among sexually active men and women was 8.4% and 10.6%, respectively. Gonococcal infection was noted in one symptomatic male. Factors significantly associated with infection were number of sexual partners in past year and during a lifetime and condom use.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first community-based sexually transmitted infections (STI) screening in South Korea. Urine-based STI screening was both feasible and acceptable in university students in South Korea, and should be considered a routine part of national programs to control STI.