Prevalence of Chlamydia: Is life in the Middle East changing?

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the rate of current Chlamydia infections is similar to other parts of the world – around 3 percent. This surprising statistic confirms that, despite cultural and religious norms, STIs, and Chlamydia in particular, are widely spread throughout the general population.

Which groups are at high risk of Chlamydia?

Several high-risk groups exist in MENA. The prevalence for current infections in those attending infertility clinics is 11.3 percent, female sex workers 13.2 percent and in women with miscarriages 12.4 percent.

In infertile women, the prevalence of Chlamydia is three-times higher than in general populations across MENA. For European countries, on the other hand, the prevalence in infertile women is only around 1.8 percent. This significant difference emphasises the greater need for STI testing in certain regions of the world, including the Middle East. Infertile women without children are a particularly vulnerable group.

Overall, Chlamydia is more commonly found in men than women. This may be explained by lower restrictions in terms of sexual contact. Alternatively, more men may be getting tested due to less issues with stigma.

How is sexual and reproductive behaviour changing?

Demographically, over one third of the population within MENA is below 25 years, and this is set to increase. The age of marriage is rising for both men and women. Young men are more sexually active before marriage and often have multiple sex partners. This increases the likelihood of spreading sexually transmitted infections.

Can the rate of Chlamydia be reduced?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to end the epidemic of sexually transmitted infections as a major global public health concern. To reduce the current prevalence of STIs, WHO recommends:

• Universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services
• Comprehensive health information
• Education and health promotion programmes
• Interventions that empower women and other stigmatised populations.

Sociocultural sensitivities in the Middle East limit the progression towards understanding of sexual health. However, organisations are working to tackle stigma surrounding sex in the Middle East. The good news is that there is now greater general awareness of Chlamydia and high-risk groups. Each step towards increased sexual health awareness and testing is a positive improvement.

Get tested for Chlamydia

Regular STI testing protects your wellbeing and prevents the spread of infection. With Better2Know, you can choose to test for Chlamydia on its own or as part of a comprehensive screen such as our Full Screen and Gold Screen. Our Sexual Health Advisors are on hand to help you decide on the best test for you.

Sources

[1] The Lancet: Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the Middle East and north Africa, what next?

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