TY - JOUR
T1 - Chlamydia infection in street youth
T2 - Need for more aggressive screening programs
AU - Tam, R.
AU - MacDonald, N.
AU - Feder, S.
AU - Glglla, L.
AU - Peeling, R.
AU - Gully, P.
AU - Toye, B.
AU - Doherty, J.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Objectives: To determine, first, the sexual practices among street youth in the Ottawa-Carleton, Ontario region; second, the percentage of street youth who report previous sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening; and third, the rate of previous infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in this population. Methods: This prospective street youth pilot study was cross-sectional in design. Street youth aged 15 to 20 years were recruited through a drop-in centre or shelter in Ottawa, Ontario between August and October 1993. Information on demographics, substance use, current sexual practices and STD screening and infection history were obtained through a structured face to face interview and a 75-item questionnaire. Past C trachomatis infection was determined by microimmunofluorescence assay with purified antigens of C trachomatis (serovars A to K), Chlamydia psittaci (avian strain 6BC) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (TW-183 strain). Results: Ninety-eight per cent of the youth approached participated. Of the 100 street youth (61 males, mean age 17.8 years; 39 females, mean age 17.1 years), 94% were sexually active, with 21% of males and 26% of females having had four or more different sexual partners in the previous year. Only 27% of males and 8% of females reported consistent condom use with all partners all of the time. Thirty per cent of males and 50% of females reported previous STD testing. Of the 100 street youth, 22 (16 males and six females) had had previous C trachomatis infection by serotesting, but only three of 16 (19%) of these males and three of six (50%) of these females reported previous STD testing. None of the 22 recalled previous diagnosis or treatment for any STD. Conclusions: These street youth reported a high prevalence of risky sexual behaviour, and this supports the national STD guidelines for targeted screening in this population. The current screening guidelines for C trachomatis in this population do not reach the majority of street youth.
AB - Objectives: To determine, first, the sexual practices among street youth in the Ottawa-Carleton, Ontario region; second, the percentage of street youth who report previous sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening; and third, the rate of previous infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in this population. Methods: This prospective street youth pilot study was cross-sectional in design. Street youth aged 15 to 20 years were recruited through a drop-in centre or shelter in Ottawa, Ontario between August and October 1993. Information on demographics, substance use, current sexual practices and STD screening and infection history were obtained through a structured face to face interview and a 75-item questionnaire. Past C trachomatis infection was determined by microimmunofluorescence assay with purified antigens of C trachomatis (serovars A to K), Chlamydia psittaci (avian strain 6BC) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (TW-183 strain). Results: Ninety-eight per cent of the youth approached participated. Of the 100 street youth (61 males, mean age 17.8 years; 39 females, mean age 17.1 years), 94% were sexually active, with 21% of males and 26% of females having had four or more different sexual partners in the previous year. Only 27% of males and 8% of females reported consistent condom use with all partners all of the time. Thirty per cent of males and 50% of females reported previous STD testing. Of the 100 street youth, 22 (16 males and six females) had had previous C trachomatis infection by serotesting, but only three of 16 (19%) of these males and three of six (50%) of these females reported previous STD testing. None of the 22 recalled previous diagnosis or treatment for any STD. Conclusions: These street youth reported a high prevalence of risky sexual behaviour, and this supports the national STD guidelines for targeted screening in this population. The current screening guidelines for C trachomatis in this population do not reach the majority of street youth.
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U2 - 10.1155/1996/475132
DO - 10.1155/1996/475132
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0029963560
SN - 1180-2332
VL - 7
SP - 49
EP - 52
JO - Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 1
ER -