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Better efforts needed for routine STD screening in black adolescents
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Rates for chlamydia were high among black male and female inner-city adolescents, reinforcing the need for routine screening of sexually transmitted diseases in this population, according to researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine.
Veronica H. Accornero, PhD, and colleagues set out to assess the prevalence of risky sexually behaviors and the prevalence for STDs among high-risk black males and females. Data were pooled on 77 participants included in the longitudinal Miami Prenatal Cocaine Study who were enrolled at birth and followed-up between 18 and 19 years.
Sexual behavior questionnaires were completed at follow-up; participants were screened for commonly reported STDs by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH)-affiliated Adolescent Counseling and Testing Service (ACTS) at the University of Miami.
During the preliminary analysis, 81% of adolescents reported a history of sexual intercourse and 25% tested positive for chlamydia. The researchers detected two cases of gonorrhea and no cases of syphilis or HIV. Earlier sexual debut and a greater number of sexual partners was more likely in males vs. females (P<.05); sex with an older partner was associated with STD occurrence among both males and females (P<.01).
STD occurrence did not differ between genders or by prenatal cocaine exposure, according to the study abstract.
For more information:
- Accornero V. #1. Presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies’ Annual Meeting 2011. April 30-May 3, 2011; Denver.
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