Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection and associated factors among asymptomatic pregnant women in Botswana.

This article focuses on the prevalence and correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections among asymptomatic pregnant women in Botswana, based on baseline data from the Maduo Study, a prospective trial evaluating diagnostic screening during antenatal care (ANC). Among 251 women screened at their first ANC visit in Gaborone, 21.9% tested positive for C. trachomatis, 0.4% for N. gonorrhoeae, and 0.8% for both infections, indicating a high burden of undetected infections missed by Botswana's current syndromic management approach. Older maternal age was associated with lower odds of infection, while alcohol use during pregnancy was linked to higher odds. The findings suggest that routine diagnostic screening for C. trachomatis during ANC may be necessary in Botswana and similar low- and middle-income countries to reduce adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.