330445
Evaluating chlamydial and gonococcal positivity at a health and wellness center in South Los Angeles
A community-based health and wellness center provided free sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment in South Los Angeles (LA), an underserved area where 95% residents are African-American or Hispanic/Latino. Our objective was to evaluate trends in chlamydial and gonococcal positivity.
Methods
Molecular testing was used for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) detection. Positivity was grouped by anatomic site and compared with CT and NG prevalence rates in LA County in 2011.
Results
Between July 2013-March 2014, 809 CT and 1008 NG tests were administered using specimens from different anatomic sites from 724 clients (80.9% male). The positivity rates of CT and NG were 4.8% and 2.8%, respectively. Reported prevalence rates in LA County in 2011 were 0.5% and 0.1%, respectively. Chlamydial tests were positive in 4.1% of 676 urine specimens, 10.3% of 107 rectal specimens, and 7.7% of 26 vaginal specimens. Gonococcal tests were positive in 2.5% of 667 urine specimens, 2.9% of 208 pharyngeal specimens, 9.4% of 106 rectal specimens, and 0 of 27 vaginal specimens.
Conclusions
The health and wellness center conducted 1817 CT and NG tests identifying 74 total CT and NG infections over nine months. Relatively higher rates of rectal site positivity highlight the need to continue rectal CT and NG screening in at-risk populations. The screened population’s CT and NG positivity rates were nine and 27 times higher, respectively, than rates in LA County residents overall. Community-based health and wellness centers can be important for identifying CT and NG infections in underserved areas.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practiceEpidemiology
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the positivity of chlamydial and gonococcal infection at different anatomic sites from clients screened at a health and wellness center in South Los Angeles
Compare positivity rates of chlamydial and gonococcal infection from clients screened at a health and wellness center in South Los Angeles to overall prevalence rates in Los Angeles County
Keyword(s): STDs/STI, Underserved Populations
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have combined relevant coursework and research experience from my undergraduate education with the assistance of experts in epidemiology and public health to coordinate this study. I have been actively involved in the methodology planning and data analysis of this study. Among my scientific interests has been evaluating trends in sexually transmitted infections in underserved populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.