Abstract:

Yue Xiaoli, Gong Xiangdong, Teng Fei, Jiang Ning, Li Jing, Men Peixuan, Wang Jian Division of Sexually Transmited Disease Epidemiology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; National Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease Control, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210042, China Corresponding author: Gong Xiangdong, Email: gxdchina@163.com 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate epidemiologic features of genital Chlamydia trachomatis （Ct） infection in China, and to provide scientific evidence for developing control strategies. Methods A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted to analyze personal, spacial and temporal distribution of genital Ct infection cases reported from 105 national sexually transmitted disease （STD） surveillance sites in China between 2008 and 2015. Results The reported incidence rate of genital Ct infection increased from 32.48 per 100 000 in 2008 to 37.18 per 100 000 in 2015, with the average annual rate of increase being 1.95%. There was marked variation in the reported incidence of genital Ct infection （range, < 1/100 000 - 615.99/100 000） among different STD surveillance sites, which was relatively high in the Pearl River Delta region, Yangtze River Delta region, Minjiang River region and some ethnic minority areas in western China, but low in north China and central China. In addition, no cases were reported at a few sites in rural areas. The reported annual incidence rate was higher in females than in males from 2008 to 2015, and the ratio of male to female cases decreased from 0.61 ∶ 1 in 2008 to 0.46 ∶ 1 in 2015. Among all age groups, the sexually active population aged 20 - 44 years showed high reported incidence of genital Ct infection, with the highest reported incidence observed in the group aged 25 - 29 years （range, 116.72/100 000 - 142.98/100 000）; the group aged 15 - 19 years showed the highest average annual rate of increase （10.06%） in the reported incidence of genital Ct infection. Among all kinds of medical institutions, general hospitals had the largest number of reported cases （range, 66.00% - 74.22%）, followed by gynecology hospitals, Maternal and Child Health （MCH） hospitals and specialized dermatovenereology hospitals. Conclusions Genital Ct infection has been one of important public health issues in China, more attention should be paid to its prevention, and effective preventive measures are needed to be developed according to epidemiologic features.