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Availability of Safety-net Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinical Services in the U.S., 2018
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4 2020
Source: Am J Prev Med. 58(4):555-561 -
Alternative Title:Am J Prev Med
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Personal Author:
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Description:Introduction:
Safety-net sexually transmitted disease services can prevent transmission of sexually transmitted disease. This study assesses the availability of safety-net sexually transmitted disease clinical services across the U.S.
Methods:
A 2018 survey of U.S. local health departments examined the availability of safety-net providers and the availability of specific sexually transmitted disease clinical services, including point-of-care testing and treatment. In 2019, Rao−Scott chi-square tests were used to compare service availability by clinic type (sexually transmitted disease clinic versus other clinics).
Results:
A total of 326 local health departments completed the survey (49% response rate). Of respondents, 64.4% reported that a clinic in their jurisdiction provided safety-net sexually transmitted disease services. Having a safety-net clinic that provided sexually transmitted disease services was more common in medium and large jurisdictions. Sexually transmitted disease clinics were the primary provider in 40.5% of jurisdictions. A wide range of specific sexually transmitted disease services was offered at the primary safety-net clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. Most clinics offered human papillomavirus vaccination and appropriate point-of-care treatment for gonorrhea and syphilis. Fewer than one-quarter of clinics offered point-of-care rapid plasma reagin or dark-field microscopy syphilis testing. Compared with other clinics, services more commonly offered at sexually transmitted disease clinics included same-day services, hepatitis B vaccination, rapid plasma reagin testing (syphilis), any point-of-care testing for gonorrhea, point-of-care trichomonas testing, and extragenital chlamydia or gonorrhea testing.
Conclusions:
One-third of local health departments reported no safety-net sexually transmitted disease services or were not aware of the services, and availability of specific services varied. With-out an expansion of resources, local health departments might explore collaborations with healthcare systems and innovations in testing to expand sexually transmitted disease services.
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Subjects:
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Source:
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Pubmed ID:32001050
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC10088361
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Document Type:
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Main Document Checksum:
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File Type:
[PDF-352.95 KB]
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