Sexually transmitted disease screening in teens.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) impose a tremendous health burden on women, and adolescent females are the group at the highest risk. Universal annual screening of all women younger than 25 years of age has been a best practice recommendation since 1997. When implemented, such screening leads to a decrease in disease prevalence and of serious sequelae, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). However, STD screening rates in actual clinical practice fail to approach recommendations. In this review, we summarize findings from recent surveys of providers and adolescents, discuss barriers to STD screening, and offer strategies for individual clinicians to improve STD screening rates in practice.
Huppert
Jill S
JS
Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, ML 4000, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA. jill.huppert@chmcc.org
Adams Hillard
Paula J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology