Manassas Park City is part of the Greater Prince William Area (GPWA), located in Northern Virginia, about 30 miles southwest of Washington, DC. As of the 2015 census, the population was 16,127. It is the youngest community of the GPWA with a much lower rate of residents aged 65 and above, 5.6% to be exact. According to GPWA Health Assessment (2015), bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis infections are the most commonly reported STDs in Manassas City in Virginia. A total of 69 chlamydial infections were reported in Manassas for a case rate of 427.8 cases per 100,000. Chlamydia trachomatis is a gram-negative bacterium that infects the salpinges, cervix, nasopharynx, urethra, epididymis, and uterus (Geisler, 2015). Oral, vaginal or anal unprotected sex are the main causes of chlamydia infection. The infections are prevalent in sexually active individuals as well as individuals with multiple partners. However, it possible to transmit chlamydia to a child from an infected mother during childbirth which results in pneumonia or conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).
Manassas Park City is the youngest community of the GPWA, and many of the young people have engaged in sexual risk behaviors. Sexually-related risk behaviors make them susceptible to risks of chlamydial infection, STIs, and unplanned for pregnancy. A survey of Manassas High School students by Prince William Health Department in 2015 found that 41% engaged in sexual intercourse, 10% had more than one sexual partner, 43% did not use a condom, and 21% of the sexual intercourse were alcohol or drug-fueled sex. The rate of chlamydia increased 12 % for teens aged 14 to 19 years, 21 % for youths aged 20 to 25 years and 11% for youths aged 26 and above. Because of the youthfulness of the population, the rates of Chlamydia have continued to increase. Their increase risks for infection is due to biological (cervical ectopy), contextual (intimidation, lack of power to insist on using condom, loss of pleasure associated with condom use), and behavioral factors (sexual activity with multiple partners without a barrier contraceptive) (Torrone, Papp, & Weinstock, 2014).
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Youth ages 10-25 make up just over one half of the sexually active population in Manassas. They do not engage in safe sex practices. Not only young women carry the highest incidence of chlamydia, but their rate of pregnancy is also significantly higher, by approximately three times, for Manassas City (52.4 per 1,000 teenage girls’ population) compared to Virginia (18.7 per 1,000 teenage girls’ population) (GPWA Health Assessment, 2015). The relationship between sexual risk behavior and chlamydia and pregnancy is of particular importance for Manassas city as to implement programs that will benefit young people in adopting lasting behaviors and attitudes that support their health well-being in general.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment
Guidelines. MMWR, 64(RR-3). Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia-detailed.htm
Geisler, W. M. (2015). Diagnosis and management of uncomplicated Chlamydia trachomatis infections in adolescents and adults: summary of evidence reviewed for the 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines. Clinical Infectious Diseases , 61(suppl 8), S774-S784.
Greater Prince William Area Community Health Assessment (2015). A Community of Healthy People and Healthy Environment. Retrieved from https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/PrinceWilliam/GPWA%20CHA
Torrone, E., Papp, J., & Weinstock, H. (2014). Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital
infection among persons aged 14-39 years--United States, 2007-2012. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report , 63(38), 834-838.
