|
|
 |
|
|
<< Back
In Juvenile Hall, a Struggle over STD Testing
|
|
Abstract
|
| Young men test positive for chlamydia at San Francisco’s juvenile hall at a rate five times that of California’s general population, but political and financial support for the screening is difficult to sustain.
Since May 1, screening has identified five cases of chlamydia in 170 teenage boys tested at the Youth Guidance Center. The 2.9 percent positive rate contrasts to a statewide rate of less than 0.5 percent.
About a year ago, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) stopped screening most boys and men for STDs in public clinics citywide, a cut that was expected to save about $60,000 annually.
Health educators and advocates immediately questioned one premise justifying the cut, that screening young men was not as cost-effective as targeting STDs in young women.
“Truly, I was horrified,” said Deb Levine, executive director and founder of Internet Sexuality Information Services (ISIS), a partner with SFDPH in the juvenile hall screening effort. After SFDPH discontinued screening males, Levine’s organization secured from funders a one-year grant that reinstated gonorrhea and chlamydia screening for young men in several San Francisco public clinics.
“The idea that you only treat young women is erroneous,” Levine said, noting that most young women who are infected get the STD from young men, who are less likely to practice monogamy than their female partners.
All young men coming into juvenile hall are now screened. The rate of positive tests does not discourage Michael Baxter, who oversees a program that provides health services to youth there. “When I see 2 or 3 percent, I say, ‘Okay, we’re doing the right thing,’” he said.
|
|
|
|
Source
|
| http://www.baycitizen.org |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer: NPIN provides this information as a public service only. The views and information provided about the materials, news, funding opportunities, organizations, and conferences do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, or NPIN.
|
|
|
cdcnpin.org News Record #55801
|
|
<< Back
|
|
|
|
