Accuracy of Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections and Genital Mycoplasmas Screening by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Using a Self-Collected Veil among Adult Women in Sub-Saharan Africa
Table 1
Sociodemographics, behavioural, and hygiene characteristics of the 251 women living in N'Djamena, Chad, and recruited from the community.
Variable/category
All study women (N = 251)
n () [95% CI]
Age (years)
78 (31.1) [25.4–37.2]
≥ 30 − < 40
66 (26.3) [21.0–32.2]
≥ 40 − < 50
69 (27.5) [22.1–33.5]
≥ 50
38 (15.1) [10.9–20.2]
Marital status
Married or living in couple
203 (80.9) [75.5–85.6]
Single
48 (19.1) [14.4–24.5]
Occupation
Unemployed
137 (54.6) [48.2–60.9]
Student
36 (14.3) [10.3–19.3]
Employed
78 (31.1) [25.4–37.2]
Education level
Never schooled
47 (18.7) [14.1–24.1]
Elementary school
43 (17.1) [12.7–22.4]
High school
80 (31.9) [26.2–38.0]
University
81 (32.3) [26.5–38.4]
Age at first sexual intercourse (year)
≤ 17
136 (54.2) [47.8–60.5]
≥ 18
110 (43.8) [37.6–50.2]
No response
5 (2.0) [0.6–4.6]
Number of sexual partners in the life
One regular partner
201 (80.1) [74.6–84.8]
Several partners [1 to 5]
41 (16.3) [12.0–21.5]
Past history of STIs
Yes
11 (4.4) [2.2–7.7]
No
240 (95.6) [92.3–97.8]
HIV-1 status
Positive
9 (3.6) [1.7–6.7]
Negative
242 (96.4) [93.3–98.3]
HBV status
Positive
19 (7.6) [4.6–11.6]
Negative
232 (92.4) [88.4–95.4]
HCV status
Positive
8 (3.2) [1.4–6.2]
Negative
243 (96.8) [93.8–98.6]
Vaginal tampon use
Never
215 (85.7) [80.7–89.7]
Sometimes
14 (5.6) [3.1–9.2]
Often
4 (1.6) [0.4–4.0]
Always
18 (7.2) [4.3–11.1]
Regular genital toilet
Yes
201 (80.1) [74.6–84.8]
Water
110 (54.7) [47.6–61.7]
Water + soap
91 (45.3) [38.3–52.4]
No
50 (19.9) [15.2–25.4]
Postcoital genital toilet
Yes
230 (91.6) [87.5–94.7]
Water
141 (61.3) [54.7–67.6]
Water + soap
89 (38.7) [32.4–45.3]
No
21 (8.4) [5.3–12.5]
Use of contraceptive
Yes
66 (26.3) [21.0–32.2]
Pill
17 (25.8) [15.8–38.0]
Intrauterine device
11 (16.7) [8.6–27.9]
Condom
7 (10.6) [4.4–20.6]
Other
31 (47.0) [34.6–59.7]
No
185 (73.7) [67.8–79.0]
The frequency of each variable is presented with their 95% confidence interval in brackets. Including infections due to N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, and syphilis. Alternative of vaginal tampon use for feminine hygiene during menstruation was the use of sanitary napkins. CI: confidence interval; HIV-1: human immunodeficiency virus; HBV: hepatitis B virus; HCV: hepatitis C virus; STIs: sexually transmitted infections.
