Prevalence of genital chlamydial infection in young women entering a national job training program, 1990-1997.
OBJECTIVE
This analysis describes trends in the prevalence of genital chlamydial infection in economically disadvantaged young women entering a national job training program.


METHODS
We examined chlamydia test data for May 1990 through June 1997 for women aged 16 to 24 years who enrolled in the program. The significance of trends was evaluated with the chi 2 test for trend.


RESULTS
Prevalence of chlamydial infection declined 32.9%, from 14.9% in 1990 to 10.0% in 1997 (P < .001). Prevalence decreased significantly in all age groups, racial/ethnic groups, and geographic regions.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in prevalence of chlamydial infection suggests that prevention activities have reached disadvantaged women across the United States; however, prevalence of chlamydial infection remains high, and enhanced prevention efforts in disadvantaged communities are urgently needed.
Mertz
K J
KJ
Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga., USA.
Ransom
R L
RL
St Louis
M E
ME
Groseclose
S L
SL
Hadgu
A
A
Levine
W C
WC
Hayman
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014931:Women, Working / Q000193:education