Chlamydia screening of youth and young adults in non-clinical settings throughout California.

BACKGROUND: Urine-based chlamydia tests enable screening in non-clinical settings. GOAL: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of chlamydia infection among high-risk youth and young adults in non-clinical settings. DESIGN: County sexually transmitted disease (STD) programs implemented chlamydia screening projects in non-clinical settings using nucleic acid amplification tests. Demographic and access to care data were collected. RESULTS: Overall, 16,279 female and male youth were screened for chlamydia in 24 counties throughout California. The 158 screening venues included 32 educational, 32 correctional, and 94 community-based settings. Chlamydia infection rates varied significantly by gender, age, and venue type. Among females, the highest prevalence was found in jail settings (14.6%), juvenile detention (13.0%), and alternative schools (10.0%). Among males, the highest prevalence was found in jail (7.9%) and juvenile detention (5.8%). Venue types that serve populations with poor access to care and high rates of infection were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Screening projects in non-clinical settings identify high-risk youth in need of STD care, improve access to STD screening and education, and foster local collaborations.