ArticleBMC infectious diseases2012
Early sexual behaviour and Chlamydia trachomatis infection - a population based cross-sectional study on gender differences among adolescents in Norway.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 37 citations in OpenAlex.
- Educational Differences in Sexual Health among Adolescents in Europe: A Meta-Analysis.Journal of youth and adolescence · 2026Pooled it
- Socioeconomic factors and other sources of variation in the prevalence of genital chlamydia infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2015Pooled it
- Chlamydia prevalence in the general population: is there a sex difference? a systematic review.BMC infectious diseases · 2013Pooled it
- Trial
- Modelling the determinants of uptake of complete immunization of children in Ghana.BMC pediatrics · 2025Article
- Early Sexual Debut and the Associated Factors among School Going Adolescents in Selected Schools in Kenya.The East African health research journal · 2023Article
- Prevalence estimates of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Belgium: results from two cross-sectional studies.BMC infectious diseases · 2021Article
- Knowledge and determinants of women's knowledge on vertical transmission of HIV and AIDS in South Africa.AIDS research and therapy · 2021Article
- Gender differences in risk taking behaviors forHealth care for women international · 2020Article
- Increased incidence of gonorrhoea and chlamydia in Greenland 1990-2012.International journal of circumpolar health · 2017Article
- Sexual Health questions included in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study: an international methodological pilot investigation.BMC medical research methodology · 2016Article
- Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in adolescents in Northern Italy: an observational school-based study.BMC public health · 2016Article
- Reproductive health decision making among Ghanaian women.Reproductive health · 2014Article
- Factors associated with Chlamydia trachomatis testing in a high school based screening and previously in clinical practice: a cross-sectional study in Norway.BMC infectious diseases · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEarly sexual behaviour has been shown to differ significantly between genders, but few studies have addressed this topic to explain the commonly observed differences in chlamydia rates between adolescent girls and boys. Our study aimed to determine chlamydia prevalence in adolescents aged 15-20 years in a high-incidence area in Norway, and to identify gender-specific early sexual behaviours associated with infection.
methodsA population based cross-sectional study was conducted among all high school students in five towns in Finnmark county in 2009, using a web-based questionnaire and real-time Chlamydia trachomatis PCR in first-void urine samples (participation rate 85%, 800 girls/818 boys, mean age 17.2 years). Crude and multivariable logistic regression models were applied with chlamydia test result as dependent variable.
resultsPrevalence of chlamydia infection was 5.7% (95% confidence interval, CI, 4.4-7.3%). Girls were twice as likely to be infected as boys (7.3%, 5.3-9.7 vs 3.9%, 2.3-6.0). Girls reported earlier sexual debut, older partners, higher lifetime number of partners, and were poorer condom users. In girls, higher maternal education (odds ratio, OR, 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.4), ≥2 sexual partners past 6 months (OR 3.6, 1.8-7.3), and partner meeting venue at a private party, bar or disco (OR 5.0, 1.1-22.7) increased the odds of infection in the multivariable model. In boys, condom use at first intercourse (OR 0.06, 0.01-0.42) decreased the odds of infection, while having an older last sexual partner (OR 3.7, 1.3-11.0) increased the odds. In all participants, the risk of infection increased if residence outside the family home during school year (OR 2.0, 1.2-3.6), and decreased if condom was used at last intercourse (OR 0.2, 0.1-0.8).
conclusionsWe detected significant gender differences in chlamydia prevalence and sexual behaviours, and accordingly differing independent risk factors for chlamydia infection. We suggest that accumulation of essentially different experiences in the early sexually active years contribute to gender disparities in chlamydia risk in individuals this age. Gender-specific approaches may be the best alternative to control chlamydia infection in age group 15-20 years.
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