Bridging the gap: using school-based health services to improve chlamydia screening among young women.
OBJECTIVE
We implemented a chlamydia screening program targeted at young women accessing reproductive health care services in a school-based setting, and we assessed racial/ethnic factors associated with infection.


METHODS
The California Family Health Council partnered with 9 health care agencies receiving federal Title X family planning funding and 19 educational institutions to implement the Educational Partnerships to Increase Chlamydia Screening (EPICS) program from January 2008 through December 2008.


RESULTS
EPICS agencies provided reproductive health services to 3396 unique sexually active females, 85% of whom self-reported no other source for reproductive health care. Chlamydia screening was provided to 3026 clients (89.1% chlamydia screening coverage). Of those screened for chlamydia, 5.6% tested positive. Clients who were African American (odds ratio [OR]=7.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.9, 14.3), Pacific Islander (OR=4.1; 95% CI=1.1, 15.5), or Asian (OR=3.3; 95% CI=1.4, 8.1) were more likely to have a positive test than were White clients.


CONCLUSIONS
Chlamydia screening programs implemented in school-based settings have the capacity to identify and treat a significant amount of asymptomatic infection in a population that otherwise may not be reached. To facilitate screening, school-based clinics should implement outreach strategies that target their school population and clinical strategies that maximize opportunities for screening.
Braun
Rebecca A
RA
Clinical and Community Health Programs Division, California Family Health Council, 2550 9th St, Suite 110, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA. braunr@cfhc.org
Provost
Jackie M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult