Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 9, 2026
Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
Published on: January 27, 2019
Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Adolescents Entering Child Protective Services
Kim K Cheung1, Diane Montgomery2, Laura J Benjamins3
1Division of Community and General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Texas.
Study Objective:
Persons aged 15-24 years have the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Adolescents in protective services custody may be at even greater risk of acquiring STIs, but little is known about the prevalence of STIs among this population. We therefore set out to assess the prevalence of STIs among adolescents seen in the Harris County Child Protective Services Clinic.
Design:
A retrospective chart review from January 2009 to December 2011 was conducted.
Setting And Participants:
Patients aged 12-18 years seen for their intake physical examination at the Harris County Child Protective Services Clinic in Houston, Texas.
Main Outcome Measures:
Main outcome measures included the number of positive tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Secondary measures included sexual history, use of condoms and contraception, and reports of drug and alcohol use.
Results:
Among 437 patients, 60% were female, their mean age was 15 years, and nearly half were African American. There were 27 cases of chlamydia, 12 of gonorrhea, 3 of syphilis, and none of HIV. Three of the teenagers who reported never having sex were positive for an STI. Being female, being older than 15 years, and having had sexual intercourse at least once were significant risk factors.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of STIs in adolescents entering foster care was comparable to national averages. Recommending routine screening of all adolescents in this population is important to ensure better detection and treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...