Maximizing opportunities for chlamydia screening at school based health centers: Lessons learned over six years

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the United States, with rates increasing annually. Disproportionately affecting adolescent females, chlamydia is often asymptomatic and can cause serious reproductive health complications if left untreated. Despite these preventable health consequences, less than half of all sexually active young women receive an annual chlamydia screening. Increasing access to screening within school-based health centers (SBHCs) is an effective approach to identifying and treating chlamydia in adolescent females. From January 2007 to December 2012, 21 health agencies, 38 high schools and 8 colleges in California participated in the CDC-funded Educational Partnerships to Increase Chlamydia Screening program (EPICS), administered by California Family Health Council (CFHC). EPICS sites implemented a variety of educational and clinical interventions, including innovative outreach strategies to increase awareness among students and improved clinical practices to streamline chlamydia screening and follow-up management. Agencies funded for this project successfully maintained a minimum 80% screening rate and detected an average chlamydia prevalence of nearly 6% among sexually-active young women. The SBHCs participating in the EPICS program were able to effectively reach, screen and treat a high-risk population in a school setting.

CFHC conducted an annual survey to identify areas of need and areas for improvement. This session will review programmatic data, and effective approaches to outreach and clinical practices. In addition, the session will highlight best practices, challenges, and lessons learned from this effective six year program.