Antenatal screening for gonorrhoea in Christchurch

All antenatal patients presenting over a 12-month period had a cervical swab taken to screen for gonorrhoea. Among 1135 patients the incidence of infection was 1.3 percent for unmarried women and 0.4 percent for those married. The size of the gonorrhoea problem in Christchurch and the need for suitable screening programmes are outlined. It is believed that a screening programme such as this complements the function of a sexually-transmitted diseases clinic in combating gonorrhoea.