Infrequent chlamydial testing among young adults: financial and regional differences.
OBJECTIVE
Chlamydia prevalence varies regionally but is highest in the South, which could be the result of regional differences in testing behavior. We describe the national and regional prevalence of self-reported chlamydial infection (Ct) testing and examine how financial resources might be associated with Ct testing.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 12,334 sexually experienced young adults who participated in wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (2001-2002). We estimated the prevalence of Ct testing by region and gender, and calculated prevalence odds ratios for the relationship between income or insurance status and Ct testing.


RESULTS
Among women, Ct testing in the past year was low (27.3%; 95% CI, 25.5-29.2) and lowest in the South (24.8%). Compared with publicly insured females, privately insured (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57-0.92) and uninsured females (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.48-0.88) were less likely to report testing. Young women with low income were more likely to report testing than those with a higher income (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.12-1.66). Men reported similar testing patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
The South has the highest chlamydia prevalence and the lowest levels of Ct testing in the United States. Reducing infection prevalence and regional disparities in the burden of this infection requires region-focused funding and innovative strategies to increase testing and treatment programs.
Nguyen
Trang Quyen
TQ
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Ford
Carol A
CA
Kaufman
Jay S
JS
Leone
Peter A
PA
Suchindran
Chirayath
C
Miller
William C
WC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology