Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection and Its Association with Sexual Behaviour and Alcohol Use in the Population Living in Separated and Segregated Roma Settlements in Eastern Slovakia

Ingrid Babinská, Monika Halánová, Zuzana Kalinová, Lenka Čechová, Lýdia Čisláková and Andrea Madarasová Gecková
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Ingrid Babinská: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, 041 80 Košice, Slovakia
Monika Halánová: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, 041 80 Košice, Slovakia
Zuzana Kalinová: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, 041 80 Košice, Slovakia
Lenka Čechová: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, 041 80 Košice, Slovakia
Lýdia Čisláková: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, 041 80 Košice, Slovakia
Andrea Madarasová Gecková: Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: The aim of the study was to explore sexual behaviour and the occurrence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in the population living in Roma settlements compared to the majority population in Slovakia and to assess the association between alcohol use and sexual behaviour within both populations. A cross-sectional population-based Hepa-Meta study was conducted in Slovakia in 2011. The final sample comprised 452 Roma and 403 non-Roma respondents. The occurrence of CT was detected by direct proof of the pathogen by PCR. The association between alcohol use and the prevalence of risky sexual behaviour were assessed using a logistic regression. First intercourse at age 15 or younger was reported by 27.9% of Roma (vs. 4.5% of non-Roma); 93.4% of Roma (vs. 77.9% of non-Roma) used condom inconsistently, 22.8% of Roma (vs. 43.9% of non-Roma) used a condom for protection from unwanted pregnancies and only 8.8% of Roma (vs. 21.8% of non-Roma) due to protection against infectious diseases. However, Roma reported having had five or more sexual partners less often compared to the majority (11.5% of Roma vs. 20.6% of non-Roma). Binge drinking at least once a month was associated with a higher number of sexual partners in both groups, but not with condom non-use. The prevalence of CT infection in the Roma population was higher (3.8%) compared to non-Roma (2.7%); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Our study found no differences in the prevalence of CT infection between Roma and non-Roma despite differences in sexual behaviour. Roma begin their sexual life earlier and have unprotected sex more often, but on the other hand, they seem to be much more restrained in terms of the number of sexual partners compared to the majority population.

Keywords: Roma; ethnicity; Chlamydia trachomatis; sexual behaviour; alcohol use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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