Chlamydial Infections Among Female Adolescents Screened in Juvenile Detention Centers in Washington State, 1998-2002

In the current study, the authors sought to assess trends in prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and associated risk factors among detained female adolescents. The retrospective study reviewed risk factor data and provider-collected chlamydia results from 1998 to 2002 at four large juvenile detention centers in Washington that routinely screen female detainees for chlamydia.

Of 3,593 tests, 13.7 percent (493) were positive for chlamydia. High chlamydia positivity was sustained throughout the five-year period of study (range, 12.5-15.0 percent) with no statistically significant positivity trends. Report of more than one sex partner in the previous 60 days (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.56, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]=1.19-2.04) and previous chlamydial infection within 12 months (adjusted OR=1.87, 95 percent CI=1.45-2.40) were independent risk factors for infection.

"Efforts are needed to promote chlamydia screening programs in juvenile detention centers because these sites have access to high-risk sexually active female adolescents," the authors concluded.

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