Relevant Population Characteristics for Chlamydia cases

Relevant Population Characteristics

Due to anatomical and hormonal differences, women are more susceptible to acquiring chlamydia than men. Females are also screened for chlamydia more frequently than males. Therefore, women carry an excessive proportion of the chlamydia burden. In 2022, 63.3% of the chlamydia cases reported to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (7,038 cases) were in females. Adolescent and young adult females 15 to 24 years of age represented 64.4% of the cases among females (4,533 cases). Adolescent and young adults have a higher incidence of chlamydia. In 2022, persons 15 to 24 years of age represented 16.5% of the Utah population but accounted for 56.8% of the reported chlamydia cases (6,313 cases). This can be attributed to increased risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young adults, biochemical differences increasing transmission rates, and increased screening among this age group.