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Rapid Uptake of Testing for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and HIV From an Online Platform, April-October 2020
Johan H Melendez1, Elizabeth A Gilliams1, Tong Yu1
1Johan H. Melendez, Tong Yu, Sarah L. Williford, Gretchen S. Armington, Barbara Silver, Charlotte A. Gaydos, and Yukari C. Manabe are with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Elizabeth A. Gilliams and Matthew M. Hamill are with the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, MD. Adam Huebner is with the Office of Global AIDS Coordination, US Peace Corps, Washington, DC.
Abstract:
The Baltimore City Health Department (Baltimore, MD) promoted IWantTheKit for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV testing to city residents and clinic patients when COVID-19 restricted in-person clinic services. From April to October 2020, monthly online IWantTheKit orders increased by 645%. A high prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhea was detected, and 96% of users who tested positive for chlamydia and gonorrhea were successfully contacted for treatment. Uptake by Baltimore City Health Department priority populations and excellent treatment linkage demonstrated how a public health-academic partnership successfully addressed a service gap during the pandemic. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(7):985-989. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306835).
