Gonorrhoea positivity among women aged 15–24 years in the USA, 2005–2007. Issue 3 (9th February 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gorgos, Linda; Newman, Lori; Satterwhite, Catherine; Berman, Stuart; Weinstock, Hillard
• Is Part Of: Sexually transmitted infections. Volume 87:Issue 3(2011)
• Page Start: 202
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2011-02-09
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- gonorrhoea -- race issues; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Periodicals; 616.951005
• DOI: 10.1136/sti.2010.046607
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4973

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To examine the epidemiology of young women screened for gonorrhoea in the USA. Methods: Data on tests for gonorrhoea among women aged 15–24 years attending family planning clinics from 2005 to 2007 were obtained through the infertility prevention project. Clinics testing 90% or more of women for gonorrhoea and sending 50 or more gonorrhoea tests per year were included. Gonorrhoea positivity on a state and county level was calculated and compared by age and race/ethnicity. Results: A total of 1 119 394 tests from 948 clinics was eligible for inclusion. Median state-specific gonorrhoea positivity was 1.3% (IQR 0.7–2.0%). Positivity was higher among women aged 15–19 years (1.4%, IQR 0.9–2.6%) than among those aged 20–24 years (1.1%, IQR 0.6–1.4%, p=0.03) and among non-Hispanic black women (3.8%, IQR 3.2–4.6%) than non-Hispanic white women (0.6%, IQR 0.4–0.8%, p<0.0001). Half of all gonorrhoea cases in these women originated from 57 of 753 counties. Among non-Hispanic white women, positivity was 2.0% or greater in 4% of counties, while 83% of counties had gonorrhoea positivity of less than 1.0%. Gonorrhoea positivity among non-Hispanic black women was 2.0% or greater in 58% of counties, and less than 1.0% in only one-third of counties. These disparities were present diffusely across the geographical areas included in this analysis. Conclusions: Gonorrhea positivity was consistently high for young non-Hispanic black women attending family planning clinics across multiple geographical regions. A large proportion of gonorrhoea morbidity was concentrated in a relatively small number of counties in the USA among this population of young women.