School-Based Sexually Transmitted Disease Screening: Review and Programmatic Guidance

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• School-based sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening (SBSS) aims to improve adolescent access to testing, treatment, and counseling.
• Traditional screening methods face challenges in reaching the adolescent population effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on SBSS from 1998 to 2014.
• To inform STD control programs on the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and impact of implementing SBSS.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of published and gray literature on SBSS.
• Analysis of studies focusing on chlamydia and gonorrhea screening in school settings.

Main Results:

• SBSS is a feasible and cost-effective method for testing and treating large numbers of adolescents for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
• SBSS can provide counseling and treatment to nearly all infected individuals identified.
• Limited studies on large-scale SBSS exist, and current data do not indicate a reduction in STD prevalence in schools or the general adolescent population.

Conclusions:

• School-based STD screening programs are implementable and economically viable.
• Further research is necessary to evaluate the large-scale impact of SBSS on STD prevalence.
• SBSS offers a practical approach to managing STDs in adolescents within educational settings.