Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26290483›Full record

ArticleSexually transmitted infections2016

Is chlamydia screening and testing in Britain reaching young adults at risk of infection? Findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3).

Sarah C Woodhall, Kate Soldan, Pam Sonnenberg, Catherine H Mercer, Soazig Clifton, Pamela Saunders, Filomeno da Silva, Sarah Alexander, Kaye Wellings, Clare Tanton and 4 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Sexually transmitted infections, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed
4.1field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

21 citing papers in PubMed, 44 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. General practice chlamydia testing: a qualitative study of staff approaches using behavioural change theory.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Sarah C WoodhallResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance & Control (CIDSC), Public Health England, London, UK.
Kate SoldanCentre for Infectious Disease Surveillance & Control (CIDSC), Public Health England, London, UK.
Pam SonnenbergResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Catherine H MercerResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Soazig CliftonResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK NatCen Social Research, London, UK.
Pamela SaundersMicrobiology Services, Public Health England, London, UK.
Filomeno da SilvaMicrobiology Services, Public Health England, London, UK.
Sarah AlexanderMicrobiology Services, Public Health England, London, UK.
Kaye WellingsDepartment of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Clare TantonResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Nigel FieldResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Andrew J CopasResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Catherine A IsonMicrobiology Services, Public Health England, London, UK.
Anne M JohnsonResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
University College London · GBPublic Health England · GBLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council G0701757Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 084840
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn the context of widespread opportunistic chlamydia screening among young adults, we aimed to quantify chlamydia testing and diagnosis among 16-24 year olds in Britain in relation to risk factors for prevalent chlamydia infection.

methodsUsing data from sexually experienced (≥1 lifetime sexual partner) 16-year-old to 24-year-old participants in Britain's third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (conducted 2010-2012), we explored socio-demographic and behavioural factors associated with prevalent chlamydia infection (detected in urine; n=1832), self-reported testing and self-reported diagnosis in the last year (both n=3115).

resultsChlamydia prevalence was 3.1% (95% CI 2.2% to 4.3%) in women and 2.3% (1.5% to 3.4%) in men. A total of 12.3% of women and 5.3% men had a previous chlamydia diagnosis. Factors associated with prevalent infection were also associated with testing and diagnosis (eg, increasing numbers of sexual partners), with some exceptions. For example, chlamydia prevalence was higher in women living in more deprived areas, whereas testing was not. In men, prevalence was higher in 20-24 than 16-19 year olds but testing was lower. Thirty per cent of women and 53.7% of men with ≥2 new sexual partners in the last year had not recently tested.

conclusionsIn 2010-2012 in Britain, the proportion of young adults reporting chlamydia testing was generally higher in those reporting factors associated with chlamydia. However, many of those with risk factors had not been recently tested, leaving potential for undiagnosed infections. Greater screening and prevention efforts among individuals in deprived areas and those reporting risk factors for chlamydia may reduce undiagnosed prevalence and transmission.

Indexed as

AdolescentAge FactorsAttitudeBacteriuriaChlamydia InfectionsCluster AnalysisFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicLife StyleLogistic ModelsMalePrevalenceRisk FactorsSexual BehaviorSociological FactorsCHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATISEPIDEMIOLOGY (GENERAL)SCREENING

Identifiers

PMID26290483
PMCPMC4853535
OpenAlexW2160204759

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.