Detecting, preventing, and treating sexually transmitted diseases among adolescent arrestees: an unmet public health need.
Studies of detained and incarcerated adolescent offenders in the United States indicate that these juveniles have an elevated risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, many more arrestees enter the "front end" of the juvenile justice system than are detained or incarcerated, and research into the STD risk profiles and service needs of this larger group is lacking. An expansion of STD testing (including of asymptomatic youths), prevention, and treatment is needed, as is improved knowledge about gender- and race-specific services. A pilot program in Florida has shown that juvenile justice and public health systems can collaborate to implement STD testing among new arrestees. With integrated linkages to treatment and prevention after release, this model could greatly reduce the STD burden in this underserved, high-risk population.
Belenko
Steven
S
Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. sbelenko@temple.edu
Dembo
Richard
R
Rollie
Matthew
M
Childs
Kristina
K
Salvatore
Christopher
C
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult