J Korean Med Sci.  2004 Aug;19(4):495-500. 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.4.495.

Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea by Strand Displacement Amplification in Homeless Adolescents Attending Youth Shelters in Korea

• Lee SJ
• Cho YH
• Kim CS
• Shim BS
• Cho IR
• Chung JI
• Lee JG
• Kim ME

• KMID: 2157674
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2004.19.4.495

Abstract

We conducted the screening of sexually transmitted infections to define the prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections and status of sexual risk behavior among homeless adolescents (10-19 yr old) in Korea. Adolescents who ran away from home and are under the care of youth shelters in ten cities in Korea served as the study population. Participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire related to sexuality. First-void urine was analyzed for chlamydial and gonococcal infection by strand displacement amplification (BDProbTec(TM)ET, BD Diagnostic Systems, MD, U.S.A.). A total of 175 adolescents from 15 youth shelters took part in the study. Their median age was 16 yr, and 54.9% of them reported having sexual intercourse at least once. The prevalence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae among homeless adolescents was 12.6% and 15.4%, respectively. Factors significantly associated with the infections were number of sexual partners during the past year and lifetime. This is the first community-based sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening among adolescent in Korea. Screening programs targeting sexually active adolescents are important for detection of STIs. They should be considered an alternative population-based surveillance system in order to control STIs nationally.

Keyword

Chlamydia trachomatis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Adolescent; Adolescent Health Services; Sexually Transmitted Diseases

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Adult
Child
Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis/*epidemiology
Chlamydia trachomatis/*genetics
Female
Gonorrhea/diagnosis/*epidemiology
*Homeless Youth
Humans
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Mass Screening/*methods
Neisseria gonorrhoeae/*genetics
Population Surveillance/methods
Questionnaires
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Risk Factors
Sexual Behavior

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