Chlamydial genital infection occurs frequently among sexually active adolescents. Screening sexually active adolescents for chlamydia infection should be routine during annual examinations. There are approximately 3,500 teens under the supervision of the Department of Youth Services (DYS). Youth offenders are at higher risk of infection because they are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol and are more frequently sexually active with multiple partners. Minority and poor youth are disproportionately represented in the system. Youth offenders are less likely to access medical care while in the community. Urine-based screening for chlamydia provides a non-intrusive opportunity to offer disease prevention and disease intervention services that may not be available or accessed when in the community. In cooperation with DYS, the Division of STD Prevention developed a demonstration project to determine the prevalence of chlamydia in selected youth offenders. Female offenders in two lock-up facilities were offered screening beginning in April 1999. Since then, 53 girls have been tested with 7 (13.2%) positive. This is the highest prevalence noted in any group currently being screened for chlamydia in Massachusetts. We will discuss the characteristics of those who test positive as well as results of efforts to reach partners of infected girls. In addition, we will discuss how we will increase the level of STD prevalence testing in this group.
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to describe developing non-intrusive prevalence-based chlamydia screening in a high-risk population. 2. Participants will be able to appraise detention-based prevalence screening as a tool for community-based disease prevention for populations at risk
Keywords: Jails and Prisons,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.