Acute pelvic inflammatory disease in an indigent population. An estimate of its incidence and relationship to methods of contraception
Wright, N.H.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 101(7): 979-990
1968
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9378 PMID: 5659956 DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(68)90285-8Document Number: 470386
This study of a largely indigent, 90% negro population was made at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, in 1965. 902 first episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) were diagnosed clinically. 478 were termed definite and 424 possible. All calculations were based on the definite cases. The attack rate was 9.6 cases per 1000 woman-years, age 15-44, in the base population of 50,000. Highest rates were in the 20-24 age group with a rapid decline to age 30. The proportion of never-married women decreased with age. Of the 478 definite cases 148 (31%) occurred within one year of a pregnancy termination. 108 of these returned for family planning and 90-95% accepted a birth control method. Those choosing IUD had a 5 times greater risk than others of developing PID in the first postpartum year. Most of these cases were mild and treated with the IUD in place. Although gonococcal etiology has been reported elsewhere as the most frequent cause, bacteriological studies are not recorded.