Researchers conducted this study to assess compliance with the protocol for the management of women with Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosed in community FP clinics; to determine the rate of attendance at GUM clinics by these women; to assess the status of adequate treatment and to assess the level of communication between GUM clinics and FP clinics.
One hundred and twelve women were identified from FP clinic records with positive or equivocal Chlamydia results. The FP clinics provided a letter of referral to 76 women, and the GUM clinics offered a letter of reply to 21 women who attended with a referral letter. Three months after testing, only 54 of the 112 women with positive or equivocal Chlamydia tests were known by the referring FP clinic to have been treated.
According to the protocol, the majority of women with positive or equivocal Chlamydia results were referred to a GUM clinic. Attendance at GUM clinics was disappointing, as only 51.7% of the 112 women with positive or equivocal results had documented evidence of having attended. Further collaborative work between GUM and FP and reproductive healthcare (RHC) to evaluate community clinics’ role in diagnosing and managing chlamydial infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is needed.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/26/4/206
