Adolescents (n = 5,558) processed through a juvenile temporary detention center were screened for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Overall, the prevalence was 5.1% for gonorrhea and 14.7% for chlamydia. Female adolescents were 3.5 and 3.3 times more likely to have gonorrhea and chlamydia, respectively, than were male adolescents. Reinfection rates for the 180 adolescents who had a sexually transmitted disease (STD) at first screening and were screened on another occasion were 10.0% for gonorrhea and 28.9% for chlamydia. Given the high STD prevalence and reinfection rates uncovered in this study, administrators at juvenile detention facilities could potentially decrease the long-term cost burden on their facilities through a screening program designed to detect STDs before the detainees experience the costly sequelae of STDs or are released into the community to further spread the STDs. Research is also needed to devise intervention strategies that are effective in reducing risky sexual behaviors and STD morbidity in this high-risk adolescent population.
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