Exploring chlamydia positivity among females on college campuses, 2008–2010. Issue 6 (17th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Habel, Melissa A.; Leichliter, Jami S.; Torrone, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 64:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 496
• Page End: 501
• Publication Date: 2016-08-17
• Subjects: Chlamydia -- college -- minority serving institute -- STD -- student; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2015.1117470
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : Describe chlamydia positivity among young women tested at college health centers by student characteristics: age, race/ethnicity, and institution type.Participants : During 2008–2010, colleges participating in a national infertility prevention program provided chlamydia testing data from females aged 18–24.Methods : Chlamydia positivity (number of positive tests divided by the number tested) among females stratified by college type (4-year versus 2-year and minority serving institutes [MSIs]) was determined.Results : Chlamydia testing data were provided by 148 colleges: 37 (26%) MSIs and 21 (15%) 2-year colleges. Of the 118, 946 chlamydia tests, 6.5% were positive. Chlamydia positivity in females at 4-year colleges was 6.6% versus 5.3% at 2-year colleges ( p = .0001). Positivity at MSIs was almost double of that at non-MSIs, 10.0% versus 5.4% ( p = .0001).Conclusions : Chlamydia positivity may be higher among college females than previously thought. Higher positivity at MSIs suggests that targeted sexually transmitted infection prevention efforts may be useful for high-risk college populations.