Chlamydia screening strategies and outcomes in educational settings: a systematic review

Sex Transm Dis. 2014 Mar;41(3):180-7. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000095.

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) screening programs have been established in educational settings in many countries during the past 2 decades. However, recent evidence suggests that high uptake of screening and management (treatment, partner notification, and retesting for reinfection) improves program effectiveness. We conducted a systematic review to understand the screening strategies, the extent of screening conducted, and uptake of management strategies in educational settings. Screening studies in educational settings were identified through a systematic search of published literature from 2005 to 2011. We identified 27 studies describing 30 screening programs in the United States/Canada (n = 10), Europe (n = 8), Australia/New Zealand (n = 5), and Asia (n = 4). Most studies targeted both male and female students (74%). Classroom-based strategies resulted in 21,117 testes overall (4 programs), followed by opportunistic screening during routine health examination (n = 13,470; 5 programs) and opportunistic screening at school-based health centers (n = 13,006; 5 programs). The overall median CT positivity was 4.7% (range, 1.3%-18.1%). Only 5 programs reported treatment rates (median, 100%; range, 86%-100%), 1 partner notification rate (71%), 1 retesting rate within a year of an initial CT diagnosis (47%), and 2 reported repeat positivity rates (21.1% and 26.3%). In conclusion, this systematic review shows that a variety of strategies have been used to screen large numbers of students in educational settings; however, only a few studies have reported CT management outcomes.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior
  • Chlamydia Infections / diagnosis
  • Chlamydia Infections / epidemiology
  • Chlamydia Infections / prevention & control*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification*
  • Contact Tracing / methods*
  • Female
  • Health Education / methods
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening* / methods
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / statistics & numerical data
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • School Health Services*
  • Schools
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Student Health Services*
  • Young Adult