The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections in young women inmates aged 17–21 located on the Youth Offenders Institute of HMP Holloway. The study consisted of a questionnaire and a urine sample for analysis. A health advisor administered a questionnaire to establish sociodemographic profile, sexual history and illicit drug use. C. trachomatis was diagnosed using a nucleic acid amplification test. Overall, the prevalence of C. trachomatis was 13.2%. Drug use was common with 41.2% using crack cocaine and 17.3% using intravenous heroin. A majority (80.2%) reported not using condoms during the last sexual encounter and 62.6% had a history of a previous pregnancy. Over half (53.3%) had a previous sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and 74.7% had never been previously diagnosed with a STI. Sexual health programmes in prisons should include screening as well as education about STI risk reduction and drug prevention.
MoensV, BarchG, FearonP. Opportunistic screening for chlamydia at a community based contraceptive service for young people.BMJ2003; 326: 1252–5.
8.
PimentaJM, CatchpoleM, RogersPA. Opportunistic screening for genital chlamydia infection. I: Acceptability of urine testing in primary and secondary healthcare settings.Sex Transm Infect2003; 79: 16–21.
9.
PimentaJM, CatchpoleM, RogersPA. Opportunistic screening for genital chlamydia infection. II: Prevalence among healthcare attenders, outcome, and evaluation of positive cases.Sex Transm Infect2003; 79: 22–7.
10.
MertzKJ, VoigtRA, HutchinsK, LevineWC. Findings from STD screening of adolescents and adults entering correction facilities: implications for STD control strategies.Sex Transm Dis2002; 29: 834–9.
11.
BauerHM, ChartierM, KesselE. Chlamydia screening of youth and young adults in non-clinical settings throughout California.Sex Transm Dis2004; 31: 409–15.
12.
LofyKH, HofmannJ, MosureDJ, FineDN, MarrazzoJM. Chlamydial infections among female adolescents screened in juvenile detention centers in Washington state, 1998-2002.Sex Transm Dis2006; 33: 63–7.
13.
RobertsonAA, ThomasCB, St LawrenceJS, PackR. Predictors of infection with chlamydia and gonorrhea in incarcerated adolescents.Sex Transm Dis2005; 32: 115–22.
14.
KahnRH, MosureDJ, BlankS. Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae prevalence and coninfection in adolescents entering selected US juvenile detention centers, 1997-2002.Sex Transm Dis2005; 32: 255–9.
15.
KatzAR, LeeMV, OhyeRG. Prevalence of chlamydial and gonnorheal infections among females in juvenile detention facility, Honolulu, Hawaii.J Commun Health2004; 29: 265–9.
16.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2004.Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services,2005.
17.
ChartierM, PackelL, BauerHM. Chlamydia prevalence among adolescent females and males in Juvenile Detention Facilities in California.J Correctional Health Care2005; 11: 79–97.
18.
DavidN, TangA. Sexually transmitted infections in a young offenders institution in the UK.Int J STD AIDS2003; 14: 511–3.
19.
Menon-JohansoonAS, WinstonA, MatthewsG, PortsmouthS, DanielsD. The first point prevalence study of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in young male inmates in the UK.Int J STD AIDS2005; 16: 799–801.
20.
British Association of Sexual Health and HIV. UK National Guideline for the Management of Genital Tract Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. [www.bashh.org.uk] (2006).
21.
AdamEJ, CharlettA, EdmundsWJ, HughesG. Chlamydia trachomatis in the United Kingdom: a systematic review and analysis of prevalence studies.Sex Transm Infect2004; 80: 354–62.
22.
KellyPJ, BairRM, BaillargeonJ, GermanV. Risk behaviors and the prevalence of chlamydia in a juvenile detention facility.Clin Pediatr (Phila)2000; 39: 521–7.
23.
NeedleR, McCubbinH, LorenceJ, HochhauserM. Reliability and validity of adolescent self-reported drug use in a family-based study: a methodological report.Int J Addict1983; 18: 901–12.
24.
DonaldP, FortenberryJ, DennisJ, BlytheM. Validity of self-reported sexual behaviors in adolescent women using biomarker outcomes.Sex Transm Dis1997; 24: 261–6.
