Bridging the gap: Using school-based health services to improve chlamydia screening among young women

Objectives. We implemented a chlamydia screening program targeted at young women accessing reproductive health care services in a school-based setting, and we assessed racial/ethnic factors associated with infection. Methods. The California Family Health Council partnered with 9 health care agencies receiving federal Title X family planning funding and 19 educational institutions to implement the Educational Partnerships to Increase Chlamydia Screening (EPICS) program from January 2008 through December 2008. Results. EPICS agencies provided reproductive health services to 3396 unique sexually active females, 85% of whom self-reported no other source for reproductive health care. Chlamydia screening was provided to 3026 clients (89.1 % chlamydia screening coverage). Of those screened for chlamydia, 5.6% tested positive. Clients who were African American (odds ratio [OR]=7.5; 95% confidence interval [Cl] = 3.9, 14.3), Pacific Islander (OR=4.1; 95% Cl = 1.1, 15.5), or Asian (OR=3.3; 95% Cl = 1.4, 8.1) were more likely to have a positive test than were White clients. Conclusions. Chlamydia screening programs implemented in school-based settings have the capacity to identify and treat a significant amount of asymptomatic infection in a population that otherwise may not be reached. To facilitate screening, school-based clinics should implement outreach strategies that target their school population and clinical strategies that maximize opportunities for screening.