Repeat chlamydia screening among adolescents: cohort study in a school-based programme in New Orleans

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection among adolescents.
• School-based screening programs offer a practical approach to reach this demographic.
• Understanding screening uptake and determinants of repeated participation is crucial for program effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the uptake of chlamydia screening in a school-based program.
• To determine the rates of repeated yearly screening.
• To identify factors influencing repeated participation in the screening program.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 1995-2005 for students in New Orleans schools.
• Calculation of screening coverage proportions and chlamydia positivity rates.
• Use of random effects logistic regression to analyze determinants of repeated screening.

Main Results:

• Overall screening coverage exceeded 30% annually.
• Sustained yearly screening was achieved by 10.6% of women and 12.7% of men over 4 years.
• Students with a prior positive chlamydia test showed reduced likelihood of subsequent screening.

Conclusions:

• School-based programs can achieve substantial chlamydia screening uptake.
• Maintaining high rates of repeated yearly screening presents a significant challenge.
• Program strategies may need adjustment to encourage long-term participation, especially for individuals with previous positive results.