Reassessing risk assessment: Limits to predicting reproductive tract infection in new contraceptive users

The high costs and technical complexity of testing for reproductive tract infection make routine screening difficult in resource-poor reproductive health service environments. An analysis of 407 women visiting a Brazilian family planning clinic to initiate contraceptive use finds that 35% had reproductive tract infections, with bacterial vaginosis (26%) and chlamydia (7%) the most common types of infection. Only a history of sexually transmitted diseases and fewer years of education were significantly associated with having an infection of the reproductive tract However, 95% of infections occurred among women who met neither of these risk criteria. The findings highlight the need for further research on cost-effective strategies for identifying women at risk for reproductive tract infection.23417918