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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 1997 Jul 1;88(4):266–270. doi: 10.1007/BF03404794

Prevalence of Chlamydial Infection and Frequency of Risk Behaviours for STDs and HIV Infection among Adolescents in Public Juvenile Facilities in the Province of Quebec

Céline Poulin 111, Michel Alary 111,211,✉, Jacques Ringuet 111,311, Jean-Yves Frappier 411, Élise Roy 511, Johanne Lefebvre 611
PMCID: PMC6990331  PMID: 9336096

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chlamydial infection in adolescents entering public juvenile facilities in the province of Quebec and the frequency of their risk behaviours for STDs and HIV infection. Adolescents were asked to complete an anonymous self-administered questionnaire and to be screened for Chlamydia trachomatis. Of 731 sexually active adolescents, 62% agreed to be tested. The overall prevalence rate was 7.7% (95% confidence interval: 5.1% -10.3%). The prevalence was significantly higher in female than in male teenagers: 12% vs 3% (p < 0.001, Fisher’s exact test). These results suggest that screening for chlamydial infection should be offered to all sexually active female teenagers admitted into juvenile facilities. For males, selective screening taking into account sexual history would be a more realistic approach. The frequency of high risk activities for STDs and HIV infection points to the importance of specific prevention programs for this population.

Footnotes

This study was supported by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec and the Régie régionale de la Santé et des Services sociaux de la région de Québec, Québec. Dr. Alary is a research scholar of the National Health Research and Development Program of Health Canada (6605-4157-48A) and the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (930073-103).

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