Expedited Partner Therapy Provision for Chlamydia at US College Health Centers, 2023

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Control
• Adolescent and Young Adult Health

Background:

• Expedited partner therapy (EPT) is a key strategy for chlamydia control.
• College health centers (CHCs) are vital for reaching young adults, a demographic with high STI risk.
• Understanding EPT provision in CHCs is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the current provision of EPT at U.S. CHCs.
• To investigate associations between institutional characteristics and EPT provision.
• To identify challenges faced by CHCs in implementing EPT.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 2023 American College Health Association Sexual Health Services Survey (N=115 CHCs).
• Descriptive analyses and investigation of associations with institutional factors (locale, enrollment, region, public/private status, Carnegie classification, Minority Serving Institution status, chlamydia positivity rate).
• Qualitative content analysis of open-ended responses regarding EPT challenges.

Main Results:

• Nearly 70% of CHCs reported offering EPT in some form.
• EPT provision varied significantly based on institutional type (private vs. public) and CHC chlamydia positivity rate.
• Key challenges included providing EPT for non-students and provider preferences for direct partner interaction.

Conclusions:

• EPT is offered by most CHCs but remains underutilized.
• Few institutional characteristics significantly influenced EPT provision.
• Overcoming identified barriers is essential to enhance EPT uptake and improve sexual health outcomes for young adults.