Chlamydia Prevalence Among Adolescent Females and Males in Juvenile Detention Facilities in California

Abstract: With the advent of urine-based chlamydia tests, screening can be conducted in juvenile detention facilities. To determine chlamydia infection rates among female and male juvenile detainees in seven deten-tion facilities in California, urine-based chlamydia testing was con-ducted from September 2000 through July 2002. Participants provided data on demographics and use of health care services. Among the 1,284 females, chlamydia prevalence was 12.9%; among the 4,778 males, prevalence was 6.0%. Overall, 54.3 % of females and 70.5 % of males reported not having received primary care in the previous year. High chlamydia prevalence combined with poor access to primary care among All of the authors were affiliated with the California Department of Health Services, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Branch, Berkeley, at the time of the study. Authors ' note: The Get Tested Juvenile Detention Screening Group includes th