30 Apr 2010

High rate of chlamydia found in Waikato

6:37 am on 30 April 2010

Researchers have found young Maori in Waikato have the highest reported infection rates in the world of the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia.

Researcher Jane Morgan estimates one in five young Maori women in the region have chlamydia compared with one in nine non-Maori.

But, she says, this is not because of any difference in sexual behaviour.

Dr Morgan told Waatea News it may be that some young women have difficulty getting their partners to use condoms.

She said 70% of people with chlamydia don't know they have it.