Acceptability of sexually transmitted infection screening among women in short-term substance abuse treatment.
BACKGROUND
Substance abuse treatment centers provide an opportunity to offer sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening to a high-risk and hard-to-reach population.


OBJECTIVE
The goal was to assess STI prevalence, risk factors, and acceptability of STI screening among females at substance abuse treatment centers with use of urine testing by ligase chain reaction and self-collected swab specimens.


METHODS
Adult, female inpatients were offered free testing and treatment for chlamydia infection, gonorrhea, and trichomonas infection. Interviews were conducted to collect risk behavior data.


RESULTS
Eighty-six percent of inpatients (180/209) accepted testing. Twenty-three percent (41/177) had an STI. Of those with an STI, 90% (37/41) had trichomonas infection. All 41 infected patients received treatment. Drug use before sex, exchange of sex for money/drugs, and any gynecological complaint were significantly associated with infection. Most women were uninsured (76%). Only 45% had undergone a medical examination in the past year.


CONCLUSIONS
STI screening is highly acceptable among women in substance abuse treatment centers. Substance users are at high risk for STIs and may not otherwise receive medical care.
Lally
Michelle A
MA
Department of Medicine, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. mlally@lifespan.org
Alvarez
Sara
S
Macnevin
Ryan
R
Cenedella
Carly
C
Dispigno
Melissa
M
Harwell
Joseph I
JI
Pugatch
David
D
Flanigan
Timothy P
TP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health