Prevalence trends in chlamydial infections among young women entering the national job training program, 1998-2004.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the trends and risk factors of chlamydial infections in disadvantaged women aged 16 to 24 years entering a national job training program.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of chlamydia screening program on chlamydia trend.


METHODS
The authors calculated the prevalence of chlamydia by demographic and geographic characteristics from 106,377 women who were screened from 1998 through 2004.


RESULTS
Chlamydia prevalence was inversely associated with age, decreasing from 12.7% in women aged 16 to 17 years to 6.6% in women aged 22 to 24 years. Blacks had the highest prevalence (13.1%). Chlamydia prevalence significantly decreased from 11.7% in 1998 to 10.0% in 2003 and then slightly increased to 10.3% in 2004. After direct standardization and adjustment for the laboratory test type, a similar trend was observed by age and race/ethnicities.


CONCLUSIONS
Among disadvantaged women aged 16 to 24 years entering a national job training program, the chlamydia prevalence and racial disparities in prevalence were consistently high from 1998 to 2004, especially among younger black women.
Joesoef
M Riduan
MR
Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. mrj1@cdc.gov
Mosure
Debra J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002694:Chlamydiaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology