Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #99076

David Johnson, MPH, Patricia Harrison, PhD, Abbey C. Sidebottom, MPH, and Nancy Omondi, MBA. Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support, 250 South 4th Street, Room 510, Minneapolis, MN 55415, 612-673-3948, david.johnson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Objective. To describe a community based outreach intervention targeting young urban males, primarily African Americans, to reduce rates of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy in the community and demonstrate the project performance. Methods. The project is a collaboration between two community clinics and a local health department that provides reproductive health education as well as clinical reproductive health services to young males age 15 to 24 using a peer outreach model. Urine specimen collection and leukocyte esterase for STDs are offered off-site. Clinical testing data is supplemented by outreach data collection including a brief risk assessment and health education delivery. Results. Detailed outreach information was collected on 1,868 outreach contacts during the year. Of these, 95% received education in at least one of the following areas: condoms use, STD testing, pregnancy prevention, and clinic information. Outreach risk assessments indicate that although clients reached are high risk (through self report, 94% sexually active, 71% multiple partners in past six months, 31% inconsistent condom use), only 59% had ever been tested for an STD. Quarterly STD testing among the target population increased 192% at project clinics during the first year. Conclusions. Peer outreach is an effective way for clinics to increase capacity to serve young males and address their reproductive health needs. Project innovations to provide leukocyte esterase screening and urine specimen collection off-site were successful in increasing testing. More research is necessary to determine whether this intervention is successful in reducing community rates of STDs and teen pregnancy.

Learning Objectives:

• Construct methods to deliver reproductive health services and health promotion to urban high-risk youth
• Apply research methods to demonstrate the effectiveness of community outreach programs
• Describe components of a male friendly clinical environment

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Outreach Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.