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Chlamydia screening increased from 2000-2006, decreased in 2007
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In the United States, chlamydia screening among sexually active women aged 16 to 25 years increased every year from 2000 to 2006; there was a slight decrease in 2007, according to a recently released report from the CDC.
In 2000, the rate of chlamydia screening among this age group was 25.3%. By 2006, the rate had increased to 43.6%. In 2007, the rate was 41.6%.
Karen Hoover, MD, from the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at the CDC and one of the researchers involved in writing the report, said the CDC will look at the 2007 results more closely to examine all possible explanations for the decline. “At this point, we need to further monitor the trend,” Hoover said in an interview with Infectious Disease News. “This may be a sign of further decrease or it may be linked to differences in data reporting for 2007.”
Hoover added that the increases seen from 2000 to 2006 indicate that efforts to improve chlamydia screening rates have been successful. “Campaigns to increase awareness among young women about the importance of chlamydia screening and campaigns to encourage health care providers to promote chlamydia screening have been beneficial,” she said.
Trends in screening
The new report gives further insight into screening trends across the country. The highest rates of screening were seen in the Northeast (45.5% in 2007); the lowest were in the South (37.3% in 2007). By state, Hawaii had the highest rate (57.8% in 2007) and Utah had the lowest (20.8% in 2007).
Hoover said the results for Hawaii indicate that aggressive campaigns to improve screening can have a strong effect. “In Hawaii, public health officials have been very active in encouraging chlamydia screening among young women,” Hoover said. “Public health departments have funded efforts to increase screening and have actively engaged health care providers to support screening.”
Need for improvement remains
Despite the improvements in chlamydia screening rates, the results show that screening rates lag behind the rates for other women’s health services, particularly among women aged 16 to 25 years.
Hoover said chlamydia screening is essential because many women with chlamydia are asymptomatic. “Many women remain unaware of the complications associated with chlamydia,” Hoover said. “This is concerning because if chlamydia is not treated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.”
The CDC has recently partnered with other health organizations to encourage chlamydia screening among sexually active women. A new organization, the National Chlamydia Coalition (www.prevent.org/ncc), was formed last year to help improve screening rates. Among other activities, the group has created a guide for health care providers on how to better encourage screening and how to address sexual history issues, particularly among younger patients.
The CDC also worked with partners to ensure accurate STD information was included in a campaign launched in April by MTV and Kaiser Family Foundation working with Planned Parenthood Federation of American and other partners. The “Get Yourself Tested 2009” (www.gyt09.org) campaign encouraged young people who are sexually active to get tested for STDs. This campaign includes commercials on MTV and is designed to increase awareness of STDs among young people and to educate young people about where and how to get tested for STDs. – by Jay Lewis
MMWR. 2009;362-365.