2014-07-292012-02-062011-05-30http://repositorio.bc.ufg.br/tede/handle/tde/1807BACKGROUND: Adolescents and youth are the group most vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which are among the most prevalent infections in the world and represent a serious impact on reproductive health in this age group. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors for infection by N. gonorrhoeae and co-positivity with C. trachomatis in sexually active adolescents and young adults living in a midsize city of Goias and describe the socio-demographic and behavioral profile of the population seen at the Family Health Program (PSF). METHODOLOGY: The study was designed as a prevalence study in 651 adolescents and young adults, not pregnant, 15 to 24 years were enrolled in the Family Health Program (FHP) in Inhumas, Goiás were excluded pregnant or postpartum teens in antibiotics or menstruating. The diagnosis of gonococcal infection and infection by C. trachomatis was performed using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in endocervical specimens using the Roche Amplicor kit for N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis. The socio-demographic and sexual behavior were obtained through a questionnaire as an interview. Univariate analysis was performed to identify potential risk factors associated with infection. Endocervical swab samples were collected from 322 sexually active patients to dtect the DNA of N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis. RESULTS: The mean age of 428 sexually active adolescents and young adults was 18.6 (SD = 2.7), with 64.3% single. Inconsistent use of condoms was observed in 78.0% of girls and 11.9% never used it. The first sexual intercourse occurred before the age of fifteen in 23.4%. Pregnancy before age 20 occurred in 90% and 23.5% of them before age 15. The prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae was 3.4% (95% CI 1.8 to 6.2) in 322 patients from whom samples were collected endocervical swab. Co-infection with chlamydia was 27.3%. Univariate analysis showed that the risk factor associated with infection by N.gonorrhoeae was not using condoms. CONCLUSIONS: Young women and adolescents in this study exhibited various behaviors considered at risk for STDs and those who reported not using condoms had a higher risk of being infected by the gonococcus. WORDS - KEY: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Adolescents Prevalence; STD; PCR.application/pdfAcesso AbertoNeisseria gonorrheaeAdolescentesPrevalência, DSTPCRNeisseria gonorrheaeAdolescentsPrevalence, DSTPCRCNPQ::CIENCIAS DA SAUDE::MEDICINADissertação