Community partnerships to optimize STI screening at an HBCU consortium

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant public health issue for college students, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), due to potential access barriers.
• Community-based partnerships can enhance sexual health services and address health inequities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an on-site STI screening program, in collaboration with a community-based organization (CBO), on screening rates, provider efficiency, and student satisfaction within an HBCU setting.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review analyzed data from students aged 17+ undergoing STI screening.
• The program offered free testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis via a CBO partner within the student health center.
• Data collected included screening volumes, demographics, provider visit patterns, and satisfaction surveys.

Main Results:

• STI screening volumes increased post-implementation, rising from 1692 to 1817 and then 1950 in subsequent periods.
• Delegating asymptomatic screening to the CBO enhanced the capacity of primary care providers for other services.
• Student satisfaction with sexual health services remained high.

Conclusions:

• Integrating CBOs into campus health services effectively expands STI screening access and optimizes provider workflows.
• This collaborative model promotes equitable, high-quality, student-centered sexual healthcare.
• The partnership approach is scalable for strengthening sexual health services at HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions.